Regardless of heightening issues over flooding in Juneau, Alaska, you shouldn’t cancel your glacier tour simply but.
The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates that Mendenhall Lake in Juneau, Alaska, will flood someday within the subsequent 2-3 weeks.
An replace on Journey Juneau’s Fb web page shared that officers are monitoring “the potential for a glacial lake outburst, just like these skilled during the last two years.”
Ought to the water ranges rise, native authorities will shut all lakeside trails and roads adjoining to the Mendenhall Glacier Customer Middle. The Mendenhall Campground will even be closed and evacuated.
Till then, the Mendenhall Glacier Customer Middle will stay open from 10:00AM to five:00PM, Sunday by way of Friday.
As of Monday, July 28, 2025, the present peak of the Suicide Basin, an over-deepened bedrock basin positioned roughly 1.8 miles up the Mendenhall Glacier, was 1,317ft. Comparatively, the basin’s peak in 2024 was 1,357ft, whereas it was 1,401ft in 2023.
The NOAA launched that the basin was rising roughly 3 toes per day and is anticipated to achieve its capability of 1,368ft in mid-August. The storage capability of Suicide Basin varies attributable to ongoing adjustments within the Mendenhall Glacier, together with ice melting and calving.
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Suicide Basin performs an necessary position within the formation of recurring glacial lake outburst floods as a result of Mendenhall Glacier acts as a dam that enables water to construct up within the basin.
A glacier outburst flood (GLOF) is the sudden launch of water from a glacier lake and is commonly attributable to the failure of a pure dam (like ice, rock, or moraine) that holds again the lake’s water. It may end up in a sudden and probably catastrophic flood downstream.
Scientists monitor these adjustments utilizing elevation fashions, drones, and satellite tv for pc imagery.
No instant trigger for concern
“It is a routine precautionary replace that occurs each summer season as a part of NOAA’s glacier monitoring,” LaDonna Rose, an Alaskan fisherwoman, cookbook writer, and self-proclaimed lover of salmon, shared in a latest touch upon the Alaska Cruise Excursions and Packing Listing 2025 – 2026 Fb group.
“If there’s ever a threat of a lake outburst, excursions and trails within the space are quickly closed as a security measure and reopened as soon as all the things is cleared. This isn’t one thing to be alarmed about, it is a pure a part of how they monitor glacier exercise every season,” she added.
Though cruise passengers ought to stay conscious of the potential for a glacier outburst, they should not be alarmed. Any closures will probably be communicated, significantly in the event that they impression paid shore excursions to the Mendenhall Glacier Customer Middle.
“No have to stress, that is simply Juneau being Juneau they usually’re used to retaining guests protected and knowledgeable,” Rose stated.
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Suicide Basin skilled record-level flooding on August 6, 2024
Though Suicide Basin has flooded yearly since 2011, it is unattainable to foretell the precise timing of the GLOF. Nonetheless, the flooding reached file ranges in 2024, damaging no less than 100 houses and vehicles.
Based on the NOAA, the Mendenhall River gauge crested at 15.99 toes on August 6, 2024. This exceeded the earlier file of 14.97 toes set in 2023.
On the peak of the occasion, the US Geological Survey (USGS) gauge at Mendenhall River recorded a streamflow exceeding 33,000 cubic toes per second (cfs), which was greater than 8,000 cfs larger than 2023’s ranges.
Early estimates additionally revealed that 14.6 billion gallons of water had been launched from the Suicide Basin. That is sufficient water to fill greater than 22,000 Olympic-sized swimming swimming pools.
As a result of the basin is not as full because it was in 2024, any potential flooding this 12 months won’t be as catastrophic. That stated, each GLOF is exclusive, and circumstances can shortly change.
Issues to do in Juneau aside from go to the Mendenhall Glacier Customer Middle
Ought to your plans be disrupted as a result of closure of the customer heart, there are many different issues to do in Juneau, Alaska.
You may, for instance, stroll the streets of the downtown space. It is saved most of the facades that make you are feeling as if you are strolling by way of a Gold Rush mining city. It’s house to fashionable eating places and bars, too. These embody the Purple Canine Saloon and Tracy’s King Crab Shack — a should if you wish to attempt recent crab.
Additionally, you will need to browse the outlets to search for distinctive souvenirs, handmade crafts, jewellery, and domestically made artwork.
The Mount Roberts Tramway is one other fashionable attraction that whisks you 1,800 toes up Mount Roberts, the place you will discover panoramic views of Juneau, mountain climbing trails, and extra.
If you wish to be rather less energetic, take into account a whale-watching cruise departing from the close by Auke Bay. You by no means know what wildlife you’ll spot, from humpback whales to sea lions.
Learn extra: Alaska shore excursions you possibly can e book with out breaking your finances
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