Particle.news
Download on the App Store
15 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Glacial Lake Release Underway at Suicide Basin, Juneau Faces Potential Record Flood

Authorities warn residents to evacuate low-lying zones ahead of a potentially record-breaking flood crest.

People view Mendenhall Glacier from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center area, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
FILE - A canoe, bottom right, glides on Mendenhall Lake, in front of the Mendenhall Glacier, on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
HESCO flood barriers, to protect property against glacial outburst flooding, separate a residential area from the Mendenhall River, on August 3, in Juneau, Alaska.

Overview

  • Officials confirmed on August 12 that water began releasing from Suicide Basin toward Mendenhall Lake and River after overtopping started August 10.
  • Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration to speed resource deployment following local and tribal emergency orders.
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts through IPAWS and evacuation notices have been issued for residents in designated inundation zones.
  • The National Weather Service forecasts the Mendenhall River will crest near 16.6 feet, exceeding last year’s 15.99 foot record.
  • About 10,000 HESCO barriers now line 2.5 miles of riverbank to protect over 460 properties as the Army Corps of Engineers launches a multi-year study of permanent flood solutions amid a decades-long hazard.