Juneau Braces for Record Glacial Flooding as Suicide Basin Unleashes Torrent

Juneau Braces for Record Glacial Flooding as Suicide Basin Unleashes Torrent

Juneau Braces for Record Glacial Flooding as Suicide Basin Unleashes Torrent

Juneau Braces for Record Glacial Flooding as Suicide Basin Unleashes Torrent
Image from USA Today

Juneau, Alaska is currently in the grips of a major flood event, as a dramatic surge in water levels from a glacial lake near the capital city threatens homes and infrastructure. Authorities on Wednesday, August 13, warned residents that the Juneau area would remain in a ‘major flood stage’ for several more hours, marking the third consecutive year of significant summer glacial flooding.

The unfolding crisis is attributed by scientists to climate change, with Alaska experiencing warming faster than any other state, leading to rapid glacier melt. The current event has seen Mendenhall River levels surpass the record-setting floods of both 2023 and 2024. As of Wednesday morning, the river peaked at 16.65 feet before beginning a slow fall to 15.92 feet.

This annual phenomenon, known as a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), has become increasingly common in the Mendenhall Valley since 2011. The Mendenhall Glacier acts as an ice dam for Suicide Basin, which collects meltwater. Each summer, warmer temperatures cause the ice dam to fail, sending a torrent of water into Mendenhall Lake and River.

In anticipation of this year’s flood, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a preemptive disaster declaration on August 10. City officials, with federal assistance, had installed emergency flood barriers along two miles of riverbanks over the past year. Despite these measures, some residents have been asked to evacuate as a precaution, and power has been cut to parts of the city, awaiting floodwaters to recede. Official updates and resources are available at juneauflood.com.

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