Severe weather

This image provided by the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a satellite view over Alaska, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. A vast swath of western Alaska could see flooding and high winds as the remnants of Typhoon Merbok move toward the Bering Sea region. The National Weather Service had in place coastal flood warnings, beginning Friday, spanning from parts of the Yukon Delta in southwest Alaska up to St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea and to the Bering Strait coast. (NOAA via AP)

Western Alaska braces for strong storm, possible floods

JUNEAU — A vast swath of western Alaska could see flooding and high winds as the remnants of Typhoon Merbok move toward the Bering Sea… Continue reading

 

Steven Duke shovels snow from the top of the roof at Don Abel Tool and Equipment Rental on Jan. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Update: Heavy snow prompts closings

Schools, a street and a store.

 

Line crews from Alaska Electric Light & Power work to restore power to Thane following an avalanche on Jan. 3, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Evan Bixby)

2021 saw far fewer power outages than record year 2020

Last year was in the average range for outages here in Juneau.

 

Moisture-laden air coming from the northwest is expected to dump more than a foot of snow on parts of Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, with the heaviest snowfall predicted to hit during the evening of New Year’s Eve. (Screenshot/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Get ready to ring in the new year with wet, heavy snow

Snow is expected to be heaviest as partygoers would be getting started.

Moisture-laden air coming from the northwest is expected to dump more than a foot of snow on parts of Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, with the heaviest snowfall predicted to hit during the evening of New Year’s Eve. (Screenshot/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
An Alaska Seaplanes Pilatus PC-12 sits on the tarmac at Yakutat Airport on Dec. 5, 2021, a charter flight to help stranded travelers leave after an airport instrument failure prevented any commercial flights from reaching the small city. The National Weather Service is currently working on fixing the problem. (Courtesy photo / Norton Gregory)

Yakutat airport weather instrument malfunction strands travelers

Without the dead sensor, commercial flights can’t land there, severely limiting travel options.

An Alaska Seaplanes Pilatus PC-12 sits on the tarmac at Yakutat Airport on Dec. 5, 2021, a charter flight to help stranded travelers leave after an airport instrument failure prevented any commercial flights from reaching the small city. The National Weather Service is currently working on fixing the problem. (Courtesy photo / Norton Gregory)
This photo shared under a Creative Commons license shows Wrangell. About 100 homes were without power on Wednesday with the outage expected to extend into Thursday. Power was knocked out by high winds on Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)

High winds knock out power in ‘about 100’ homes in Wrangell

Multiple downed trees knocked out high-voltage lines.

This photo shared under a Creative Commons license shows Wrangell. About 100 homes were without power on Wednesday with the outage expected to extend into Thursday. Power was knocked out by high winds on Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)
Divers work to right a vessel capsized by snow in Don D. Statter Harbor in 2020. The Coast Guard and city both recently issued reminders to prepare for winter weather in the coming months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

City, Coast Guard remind residents to ready for colder weather

The snow isn’t here yet, but it’s on the wind.

Divers work to right a vessel capsized by snow in Don D. Statter Harbor in 2020. The Coast Guard and city both recently issued reminders to prepare for winter weather in the coming months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This screenshot from the National Weather Service website shows a low pressure system coming ashore from the Gulf of Alaska hit Juneau hard on Oct. 1, 2021, downing trees and causing widespread power outages. (Screenshot)

High winds and heavy rain makes for a busy night for firefighters, power company crews

AEL&P responding to widespread tree downings and outages.

This screenshot from the National Weather Service website shows a low pressure system coming ashore from the Gulf of Alaska hit Juneau hard on Oct. 1, 2021, downing trees and causing widespread power outages. (Screenshot)
Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Autumn storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind

Docks and Harbors says to rig for a rough one.

Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.

National Weather Service, city warn of severe rain

The worst of the rain should be over by Friday afternoon, meteorologists say.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.
The town of Tenakee Springs is holding a fundraiser to replace a footbridge washed out in the torrential December rains of 2020. (Courtesy photo / Nicole Pegues)

Tenakee Springs fundraises to replace washed-out bridge

With the birdge cut, residents on the far side have no foot access to town.

The town of Tenakee Springs is holding a fundraiser to replace a footbridge washed out in the torrential December rains of 2020. (Courtesy photo / Nicole Pegues)
A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Snow is falling, and the avalanche risk rising

March will be a hefty but not record-breaking month for snow.

A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Airlines is inspecting a 737-700 after it was struck by lightning while flying from Juneau to Sitka on Feb. 21, 2021 in accordance with the company’s policies. (Courtesy photo / National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)

Alaska Airlines inspecting flight after lightning strike near Sitka

An inspection is the airline’s standard procedure after a strike.

Alaska Airlines is inspecting a 737-700 after it was struck by lightning while flying from Juneau to Sitka on Feb. 21, 2021 in accordance with the company’s policies. (Courtesy photo / National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration)
Heritage Coffee Roasting Company is one of several Juneau businesses helping to prepare hundreds of meals for Haines residents and emergency relief workers following landslides that destroyed many homes and killed two. (Courtesy Photo / Kirk Stagg)

Juneau organizations serve up help for Haines

Hundreds of meals a day go north to help feed Haines.

Heritage Coffee Roasting Company is one of several Juneau businesses helping to prepare hundreds of meals for Haines residents and emergency relief workers following landslides that destroyed many homes and killed two. (Courtesy Photo / Kirk Stagg)
Organizations are withdrawing searchers from landslide-stricken Haines after the Alaska State Troopers called off active search and rescue operations due to hazardous conditions with the terrain and bad weather conditions in the search area. (U.S. Coast Guard photo / Lt. Erick Oredson)

State calls off active search and rescue operations in Haines

Many organizations are withdrawing their searchers but continuing their support of recovery work.

Organizations are withdrawing searchers from landslide-stricken Haines after the Alaska State Troopers called off active search and rescue operations due to hazardous conditions with the terrain and bad weather conditions in the search area. (U.S. Coast Guard photo / Lt. Erick Oredson)
“Historically bad” conditions have postponed the season opening of Eaglecrest Ski Area, said a spokesperson for the facility. (Courtesy photo / Charlie Herrington)

Eaglecrest opening on hold till weather chills out

Historically bad weather has postponed the opening until the temperature drops.

“Historically bad” conditions have postponed the season opening of Eaglecrest Ski Area, said a spokesperson for the facility. (Courtesy photo / Charlie Herrington)
Personnel from the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska load a front-end loader aboard the vessel Frontrunner for transit to Haines to provide relief and assistance in recovery efforts in Haines following catastrophic rainfall-fueled landslides, Dec. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

State, local organizations respond to Haines disaster

Everyone from SAR specialists to tribal organizations to uniformed services are helping out.

Personnel from the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska load a front-end loader aboard the vessel Frontrunner for transit to Haines to provide relief and assistance in recovery efforts in Haines following catastrophic rainfall-fueled landslides, Dec. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A truck stops outside Douglas Island Pink and Chum to pump in water on Thursday following damage to a pipeline caused by a landslide on Dec. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Landslide damages DIPAC’s freshwater supply

Many fish slated for release next spring were destroyed to preserve resources.

A truck stops outside Douglas Island Pink and Chum to pump in water on Thursday following damage to a pipeline caused by a landslide on Dec. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain and mudslides strike buildings, wash out roads

Tuesday set a record for rainfall for the Dec. 1 of any year.

A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City warns against mudslides, avalanches as heavy rains predicted

Juneau may get as much as 10 inches of rain by Wednesday evening.

Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)