Weather

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Heavy snow forecast for Friday; will turn to rain this weekend

Juneau will soon have a reminder of what makes a normal winter. On Thursday morning, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for… Continue reading

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After the ‘blob’, warm weather persisted — except in Southeast

The “blob” is dead, and in 2017, Alaska’s above-normal temperatures went with it. Not everyone enjoyed the changes that last year brought to Alaska’s weather,… Continue reading

December ‘heat wave’ is warmest in 73 years for Juneau

A heat wave unprecedented in the past 73 years has toppled weather records across Alaska, particularly in Southeast Alaska. On Friday, the National Weather Service… Continue reading

Harbor seals make use of an empty berth at Andrew’s Marina in Auke Bay on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

November finishes as 10th snowiest

A cold and snowy November turned warmer and wet as the month concluded, but this year will still rank in the top 10 for flurries… Continue reading

Harbor seals make use of an empty berth at Andrew’s Marina in Auke Bay on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A bald eagle perches above Steep Creek at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. The National Weather Service says Juneau could receive as much as 6 inches of snow by noon Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Juneau will have a white(r) Thanksgiving

Juneau won’t have to dream of a white Thanksgiving. It’ll soon be here, just like the ones it used to know. The National Weather Service… Continue reading

A bald eagle perches above Steep Creek at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. The National Weather Service says Juneau could receive as much as 6 inches of snow by noon Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
The first snow of the season covers Juneau on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Friday’s snowfall was normal, and that’s unusual

Juneau’s first snowfall of the season brought 3.5 inches of heavy, wet flakes to Juneau International Airport on Friday, according to measurements taken by the… Continue reading

The first snow of the season covers Juneau on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Juneau expected to get 3-6 inches of snow today

UPDATE: The National Weather Service’s winter storm warning for Juneau has been downgraded to an advisory, with new snow totals around 3 to 6 inches.… Continue reading

Rain-snow mix expected Monday

Juneau’s first snowfall of the season may come almost right on schedule. National Weather Service forecasters here expect sunny and cool conditions to continue through… Continue reading

The Calhoun Avenue Bridge of Gold Creek remains closed on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, so state inspectors can check for damage after Friday’s storm. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Flume Trail closed by landslide

Last week’s rainstorm has passed, but its effects will linger for at least a few weeks. On Monday, Alaska Electric Light and Power said the… Continue reading

The Calhoun Avenue Bridge of Gold Creek remains closed on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, so state inspectors can check for damage after Friday’s storm. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Floods close bridge, but no injuries reported

Heavy rain Thursday and Friday caused minor mudslides and triggered flood warnings across Juneau, but as soggy conditions gave way to sunshine, no major damage… Continue reading

Juneau resident Amy Jenson walks through a flooded parking lot at the Jordan Creek Condominiums on the way to a chiropractor appointment on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Flood warning issued for Jordan Creek

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Jordan Creek area Friday morning. According to the Weather Service stream gauges in the… Continue reading

Juneau resident Amy Jenson walks through a flooded parking lot at the Jordan Creek Condominiums on the way to a chiropractor appointment on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Vehicles send up a spray of water along Egan Drive on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Weather Service issues flood watch

The remnants of an Asian typhoon will pour up to six inches of rain onto Juneau by the end of Friday and cause some flooding,… Continue reading

Vehicles send up a spray of water along Egan Drive on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Frost on a fern along the Gastineau Meadows Trail on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Don’t believe your iPhone: Snow unlikely here

Juneau residents awoke Thursday to a rime of frost glazing windshields and roads. On their iPhones, there was a forecast of something else to come:… Continue reading

Frost on a fern along the Gastineau Meadows Trail on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The sky over the Mendenhall Wetlands Game Preserve is seen Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees first 70-degree September day in 7 years

Summer’s last gasp may have come in the first days of September. On Tuesday, the temperature at Juneau International Airport hit 70 degrees. It’s only… Continue reading

The sky over the Mendenhall Wetlands Game Preserve is seen Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
A panoramic view of downtown Juneau on Aug. 22. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

After hot start, August cools off with rain

In hindsight, the switch was thrown on Aug. 11. In the first 11 days of August, the high temperature was no lower than 67 degrees.… Continue reading

A panoramic view of downtown Juneau on Aug. 22. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Southeast Alaska’s weekend heat breaks records

Boats and trailers lined the launch ramps, residents thronged the beaches, plastic ducks bobbed in Twin Lakes, and Juneau basked under the sun on a… Continue reading

A car from the Mount Roberts Tramway rises through the mist above downtown Juneau on Monday, July 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

July’s weather was a busted summer, but forecasters are optimistic for August

Lead forecaster Rick Fritsch of Juneau’s National Weather Service office said it best. “July of 2017 was in many respects ‘the summer that wasn’t,’” he… Continue reading

A car from the Mount Roberts Tramway rises through the mist above downtown Juneau on Monday, July 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Reilly Hayes, 12, tests out the water of Gold Creek at Cope Park on Friday, June 2, 2017. Hayes’ thoughts in a word, “Cold”! (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau finishes May wetter and warmer than normal

Alaska’s capital city endured a wetter and warmer than normal May, but good weather arrived just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, according to… Continue reading

Reilly Hayes, 12, tests out the water of Gold Creek at Cope Park on Friday, June 2, 2017. Hayes’ thoughts in a word, “Cold”! (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau hits 70 degrees for the first time in 2017

Alaska’s capital city saw a high temperature of 71 degrees Tuesday, hitting the 70-degree mark at Juneau International Airport for the first time in 2017.… Continue reading

A rainbow appears over the Lena Cove area on April 28. (Kerry Howard Photo)

Juneau, Alaska see eighth-warmest April on record

A mix of rain and sun brought about the eighth-warmest April in Juneau’s history. According to figures from the National Weather Service, the measuring station… Continue reading

A rainbow appears over the Lena Cove area on April 28. (Kerry Howard Photo)