Weather

Frost-free Halloween forecast this year

Frost-free Halloween forecast this year

There’s no snow on the pumpkin, and there might not be any frost, either. Juneau’s abnormally warm October set a record Sunday as temperatures reached… Continue reading

Frost-free Halloween forecast this year
A memorial to the passengers and crew of the S.S. Princess Sophia at the Eagle Beach Recreation Area on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, 100 years after the ship hit Vanderbilt Reef and sunk in Favorite Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sophia centennial and day of sinking share stormy weather

Weather on Thursday’s centennial and the day of the Princess Sophia’s sinking shared a bit in common — but not to an eerie degree, said… Continue reading

A memorial to the passengers and crew of the S.S. Princess Sophia at the Eagle Beach Recreation Area on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, 100 years after the ship hit Vanderbilt Reef and sunk in Favorite Channel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A city maintainance crew waits for equipment to clean up a small mud slide at the south end of Gastineau Avenue on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rainfall brings mudslides to Haines but no relief to Ketchikan

A soggy weekend led to mudslides and high water across northern Southeast, but the atmospheric river that delivered the rain brought little relief to parched… Continue reading

A city maintainance crew waits for equipment to clean up a small mud slide at the south end of Gastineau Avenue on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The first snowfall of the season at Eaglecrest Ski Area on a service road. (Courtesy photo | Charlie Herrington)

Eaglecrest hit with first snowfall

Termination dust — the powdery snowfall that indicates the end of summer — now lines Juneau peaks.

The first snowfall of the season at Eaglecrest Ski Area on a service road. (Courtesy photo | Charlie Herrington)
Summer finishes as third-warmest in Juneau

Summer finishes as third-warmest in Juneau

Juneau’s summer was the third-warmest on record, according to figures compiled by the National Weather Service here. Temperatures at Juneau International Airport, the city’s official… Continue reading

Summer finishes as third-warmest in Juneau
A sign at the start of Nugget Falls Trail, near the Mendenhall Glacier, warns visitors of flooding on the popular pathway. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Batten down the hatches: flood expected Thursday

A sign on Nugget Falls Trail warns trail users of effects from a flood this week, brought by a storm which has dropped 1-3 inches… Continue reading

A sign at the start of Nugget Falls Trail, near the Mendenhall Glacier, warns visitors of flooding on the popular pathway. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sunshine gives way to a soggy (and potentially record-breaking) week

Après soleil, le déluge. According to the National Weather Service, July’s sunshine is giving way to a potentially record-breaking deluge and a flood watch for… Continue reading

Tourists take shelter at Marine Park during a heavy rain shower on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Eunavae Smallwood, 9, follows her father, Wayne, and brothers, Landon, 11, and Lakai, 13, into Auke Lake on Monday, July 23, 2018. Wayne said, “We come every day, even if its raining. It just feels great.” (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

July 2018 is warmest month ever in Juneau

It’s never been hotter. According to measurements taken by the National Weather Service here, July 2018 was the warmest month ever recorded in Juneau. Instruments… Continue reading

Eunavae Smallwood, 9, follows her father, Wayne, and brothers, Landon, 11, and Lakai, 13, into Auke Lake on Monday, July 23, 2018. Wayne said, “We come every day, even if its raining. It just feels great.” (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Merrill Jensen, Director & Horticulturist for the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, moves a watering hose on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. During dry spells Jensen has to move the watering hose every two to four hours around the clock. It takes four days to water the entire garden. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Good weather expected to continue

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, and conditions are absolutely lovely at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum. That means manager Merrill Jensen isn’t having much… Continue reading

Merrill Jensen, Director & Horticulturist for the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, moves a watering hose on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. During dry spells Jensen has to move the watering hose every two to four hours around the clock. It takes four days to water the entire garden. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Authorities, residents brace for annual flooding

Weather authorities and residents are getting used to responding to glacial floods in the Mendenhall Valley.

Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Mendenhall Glacier as viewed from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch saying Suicide Basin is now draining into Mendenhall Lake with potential flooding to begin by late Thursday afternoon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Weather Service issues flood watch as Juneau awaits glacial outburst

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River as Suicide Basin drains into the lake.

The Mendenhall Glacier as viewed from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch saying Suicide Basin is now draining into Mendenhall Lake with potential flooding to begin by late Thursday afternoon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Suicide Basin is seen on July 12, 2018 in this photograph provided by U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist Jamie Pierce. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau scientists await unprecedented flood from Mendenhall Glacier’s Suicide Basin

Glacier-caused dam could be topped by water as early as Sunday.

Suicide Basin is seen on July 12, 2018 in this photograph provided by U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist Jamie Pierce. (Courtesy photo)
This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)

‘Really, really impressive’ glacier calving prompted flood watch for Mendenhall Valley

A chunk of ice a fifth of a mile wide splashed into the basin with a cacophanous roar.

This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)
This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)

‘Really, really impressive’ glacier calving prompted flood watch for Mendenhall Valley

The National Weather Service office in Juneau has canceled a flood watch for the Mendenhall River after the Mendenhall Glacier calved ice into Suicide Basin.… Continue reading

This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)
Juneau residents listen to the music of Papertrail and enjoy the beach during a solstice party at the North Douglas Boat Launch on Wednesday, June 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees third-hottest day ever

Wednesday’s sunny weather resulted in the third-highest temperature ever recorded in the capital city and the warmest day in five years. According to the National… Continue reading

Juneau residents listen to the music of Papertrail and enjoy the beach during a solstice party at the North Douglas Boat Launch on Wednesday, June 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees third-hottest day ever

Wednesday’s sunny weather resulted in the third-highest temperature ever recorded in the capital city and the warmest day in five years. According to the National… Continue reading

Jaden Capua-Flores, left, and Piper Robidoux, both 13, share a float as they cool off with other children at Auke Lake on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees first 80-degree day of 2018

Juneau’s thermometer reached a new high point for the year on Tuesday as the National Weather Service station at Juneau International Airport topped 80 degrees.… Continue reading

Jaden Capua-Flores, left, and Piper Robidoux, both 13, share a float as they cool off with other children at Auke Lake on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Jaden Capua-Flores, left, and Piper Robidoux, both 13, share a float as they cool off with other children at Auke Lake on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees first 80-degree day of 2018

Juneau’s thermometer reached a new high point for the year on Tuesday as the National Weather Service station at Juneau International Airport topped 80 degrees.… Continue reading

Jaden Capua-Flores, left, and Piper Robidoux, both 13, share a float as they cool off with other children at Auke Lake on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The back side of the Swan Lake reservoir near Ketchikan is seen in an undated photo from winter 2017-2018 provided by the Southeast Alaska Power Agency to the National Weather Service. At the time, water levels at Swan Lake were so low that hydropower production stopped, forcing Ketchikan to rely on diesel generation. (Courtesy photo)

Southeast Alaska dries up in rare problem: a drought

If it sounds unusual to have a drought in a rainforest, it is. Low snow and little rain combined to deliver an almost unprecedented drought… Continue reading

The back side of the Swan Lake reservoir near Ketchikan is seen in an undated photo from winter 2017-2018 provided by the Southeast Alaska Power Agency to the National Weather Service. At the time, water levels at Swan Lake were so low that hydropower production stopped, forcing Ketchikan to rely on diesel generation. (Courtesy photo)
Mendenhall River. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

April finishes wetter, cooler than average in Juneau

April is normally the driest month of the year in Juneau, but this April will go into the books wetter and cooler than normal, according… Continue reading

Mendenhall River. (Photo by Kerry Howard)