Severe weather

A landslide at mile 11 on Zimovia Highway in Wrangell hit three homes and killed at least one person on Monday night, with a search for others presumed missing ongoing Tuesday by officials from multiple agencies. (Photo courtesy of the Wrangell Sentinel)

Storm causes disruptions in Juneau; landslide in Wrangell hits 3 homes, kills at least 1 person

Numerous local closures Monday, power out overnight at Douglas Harbor; search in Wrangell ongoing.

A landslide at mile 11 on Zimovia Highway in Wrangell hit three homes and killed at least one person on Monday night, with a search for others presumed missing ongoing Tuesday by officials from multiple agencies. (Photo courtesy of the Wrangell Sentinel)
A snow-obscured view from a City and Borough of Juneau office accompanies a Facebook post Monday explaining municipal offices and facilities in downtown and Douglas are being closed for the day due to a blizzard expected to continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau video)

Blizzard update: Many public offices and facilities close for day, warming shelter to remain open

Updated forecast at 3:30 p.m. Monday calls for four more inches of snow tonight, winds to 60 mph.

A snow-obscured view from a City and Borough of Juneau office accompanies a Facebook post Monday explaining municipal offices and facilities in downtown and Douglas are being closed for the day due to a blizzard expected to continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau video)
A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Major storm expected to bring up to 14 inches of snow, 60 mph winds to Juneau on Monday

Preliminary forecast expects storm to arrive about 6 a.m., heaviest snow to occur during day.

A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake issued until 10 a.m. Friday

Glacier Highway, structures near Jordan Creek may inundated, according to National Weather Service.

Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A map shows gale-force winds are likely throughout Southeast Alaska during a storm this weekend that is also expected to result in two to three inches of rain in Juneau, according to the National Weather Service. (Map by the National Weather Service)

Weekend storm with gale-force winds may pose risks for flooded riverbank, salmon derby

Storm is expected to peak Saturday, officials warn trees along Mendenhall River may come loose.

A map shows gale-force winds are likely throughout Southeast Alaska during a storm this weekend that is also expected to result in two to three inches of rain in Juneau, according to the National Weather Service. (Map by the National Weather Service)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
Plows work to clear Mendenhall Valley streets on Wednesday.

Blizzard prompts closures, elevates avalanche risk in Juneau

Officials say as the snow continues to fall, the avalanche risk rises

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
Plows work to clear Mendenhall Valley streets on Wednesday.
Blowing snow impairs visibility in rural Linn County, Iowa, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. A winter storm brought wind chill values of more than 30 degrees below zero and whiteout conditions to Eastern Iowa. (Nick Rohlman / The Gazette)

Winter storm batters U.S. power, snarling Christmas travel

A winter storm knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. Saturday.

Blowing snow impairs visibility in rural Linn County, Iowa, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. A winter storm brought wind chill values of more than 30 degrees below zero and whiteout conditions to Eastern Iowa. (Nick Rohlman / The Gazette)
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

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

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