Severe weather

Salvage captain Trevin Carlile, left, and diver Phil Sellick at Melino’s Marine Service re-float a sunken boat in Harris harbor on Jan. 8, 2026. Record-breaking snow at the beginning of the month caused at least eight boats to sink in Harris, Douglas and Aurora harbors, resulting in oil spills. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

A historic storm in Juneau: 10 sunken boats and what it takes to re-float them

Sunken boats don’t become wrecked relics. Left underwater, they can damage vessels overhead and threaten the environment

 

Capital City Fire Rescue is asking Juneau residents to dig out fire hydrants near their homes and businesses as heavy snow continues. File photo

Capital City Fire Rescue asks Juneauites to clear nearby fire hydrants

Clearing a three-foot radius can “save precious minutes in an emergency.”

 

A map from the City and Borough of Juneau shows the potentially impacted area of an avalanche advisory that was issued Friday morning (Jan. 9, 2026) (City and Borough of Juneau)

UPDATE: Thane Road reopened, “Hazard is still high” for downtown avalanche

Avalanche risk remains high, and more rain is expected through tomorrow evening

 

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Juneau Friday (Jan. 9, 2026). (NWS)

Flood watch in effect for Juneau

The National Weather Service warns that snowpack blocking storm drains may cause ponding on roadways.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Juneau Friday (Jan. 9, 2026). (NWS)
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Friday morning through Saturday for Juneau and much of the Southeast. (NWS screenshot)

Governor declares state emergency ahead of heavy rain to hit Juneau Friday

The state declaration comes after city and tribal officials declared a local emergency and requested state assistance.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Friday morning through Saturday for Juneau and much of the Southeast. (NWS screenshot)
A mound of a snow obscures a "student drop off" sign near Sít' Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Schools and city facilities are closed amid another winter storm

A winter storm warning is in effect with snow dump of around one foot forecast for the day.

A mound of a snow obscures a "student drop off" sign near Sít' Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities drops explosives via helicopter to trigger controlled avalanches above Thane Road in February 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

DOT&PF reduces avalanche hazard over Thane, Mount Juneau remains a risk

They flew over the snowpack above Thane in a helicopter Thursday to test for controlled avalanche.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities drops explosives via helicopter to trigger controlled avalanches above Thane Road in February 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

DOT&PF has a plan to reduce avalanche hazard near Juneau amid record snowfall

They’re set to fly over the snowpack above Thane in a helicopter at about noon to trigger a controlled avalanche.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A truck with a snowplow drives along Douglas Highway on Dec. 31, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Warnings pile up under record-breaking snowfall in Juneau

December 2025 is the snowiest December in the city’s history.

A truck with a snowplow drives along Douglas Highway on Dec. 31, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Alaska's Department of Transportation and Public Facilities issue a warning of increased avalanche hazard along Thane Road. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Avalanche advisory in effect for Thane, Downtown

The alert is not an evacuation notice, but officials urge residents to stay informed.

Alaska's Department of Transportation and Public Facilities issue a warning of increased avalanche hazard along Thane Road. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Dense, wet snowpack piles up beneath a stop sign on Great Western street. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

More heavy, wet snow forecast for the Juneau area this week

Capital City Fire and Rescue cautioned residents without four wheel drive from taking on the roads.

Dense, wet snowpack piles up beneath a stop sign on Great Western street. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
The National Weather Service Juneau issues a high wind warning forDowntown Juneau, Southern Douglas Island and Thane due to increased confidence for Taku Winds this afternoon. (National Weather Service screenshot)

Taku winds and dangerous chills forecast for Juneau

Gusts up to 60 mph and wind chills near minus 15 expected through the weekend.

The National Weather Service Juneau issues a high wind warning forDowntown Juneau, Southern Douglas Island and Thane due to increased confidence for Taku Winds this afternoon. (National Weather Service screenshot)
Downtown Juneau experiences its first significant city-level snow fall of the season as pictured on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)

Sub-zero temperatures to follow record snowfall in Juneau

The National Weather Service warns of dangerous wind chills as low as -15 degrees early this week.

Downtown Juneau experiences its first significant city-level snow fall of the season as pictured on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Yet another winter storm warning is forecasting up to 13 inches of snow for Juneau during a 24-hour period beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Friday the 13th storm — as in that many possible inches of snow — forecast for Juneau

Accumulation expected between 9 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday; chance of rain/snow through Monday.

Yet another winter storm warning is forecasting up to 13 inches of snow for Juneau during a 24-hour period beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
An extended advisory forecasting up to eight more inches of snow by 9 a.m. Sunday, in addition to about four inches of snow that fell between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, is issued by the National Weather Service Juneau at 12:50 p.m. Saturday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Advisory for latest weekend storm extended, with more than a foot of snow possible by 9 a.m. Sunday

Storm that began Friday night continues pattern that led to record snowfall in January.

An extended advisory forecasting up to eight more inches of snow by 9 a.m. Sunday, in addition to about four inches of snow that fell between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, is issued by the National Weather Service Juneau at 12:50 p.m. Saturday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
The National Weather Service Juneau station has received more than 10 inches of snow as of 6 a.m Thursday from a storm that started Wednesday afternoon. (Screenshot from video by NWS Juneau)

Juneau appears to break January snowfall record; remote learning day for schools, city opens at 11 a.m.

Unofficial total of 76.8 inches of snow at the airport tops 75.2 inches that fell in 2009.

The National Weather Service Juneau station has received more than 10 inches of snow as of 6 a.m Thursday from a storm that started Wednesday afternoon. (Screenshot from video by NWS Juneau)
A winter storm warning for the Juneau area is forecasting up to 14 inches of snow between 3 p.m. Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Sounds like a broken record (literally?): Up to 14” of snow forecast starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday

Juneau 5.2 inches shy of the snowfall record for January as of Monday.

A winter storm warning for the Juneau area is forecasting up to 14 inches of snow between 3 p.m. Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Isil Mico takes a photo of her sister-in-law Oznur Mico in front of Snowzilla, a snowman measuring more than 20 feet tall, in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 10, 2024. A recent storm dropped nearly 16 inches of snow on Anchorage, bringing the seasonal total to over 103 inches. It’s the earliest Alaska’s largest city has reached the 100-inch mark. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

‘Pandemic of snow’ in Anchorage sets a record for the earliest arrival of 100 inches of snow

Even by Alaska standards, there is a lot of snow this winter. So much snow has fallen — so far, more than 8.7 feet (2.65… Continue reading

Isil Mico takes a photo of her sister-in-law Oznur Mico in front of Snowzilla, a snowman measuring more than 20 feet tall, in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 10, 2024. A recent storm dropped nearly 16 inches of snow on Anchorage, bringing the seasonal total to over 103 inches. It’s the earliest Alaska’s largest city has reached the 100-inch mark. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Above, a downtown Juneau street on Wednesday, Jan. 24, following two large snowstorms during the previous 10 days. Below, the same street at midday Monday after record-high temperatures and heavy rain dissolved most of the accumulated snow in many parts of town. (Above photo by Becky Bohrer / Associated Press; below photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain, record-high temperature causes snow from massive storms to virtually vanish

Juneau’s airport had 36 inches of snowpack last Wednesday, “down to a trace” on Monday morning.

Above, a downtown Juneau street on Wednesday, Jan. 24, following two large snowstorms during the previous 10 days. Below, the same street at midday Monday after record-high temperatures and heavy rain dissolved most of the accumulated snow in many parts of town. (Above photo by Becky Bohrer / Associated Press; below photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A city worker clears streets in downtown Juneau following this week’s snowstorm. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Arrival of heavy rain means risk for structures, boats and avalanches even higher after record snow

Up to two inches of precipitation a day forecast through Monday; Thane Road closing at 6 p.m. Friday

A city worker clears streets in downtown Juneau following this week’s snowstorm. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)