Weather

How dry is our rainforest? Southeast’s rare drought could threaten plants, animals, your power bill

How dry is our rainforest? Southeast’s rare drought could threaten plants, animals, your power bill

The entirety of Southeast Alaska is in some state of drought.

How dry is our rainforest? Southeast’s rare drought could threaten plants, animals, your power bill
Rain, sleet, hail, graupel: It’s been a weird weather week for Juneau
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Rain, sleet, hail, graupel: It’s been a weird weather week for Juneau

It was the latest snowfall in more than a decade.

Rain, sleet, hail, graupel: It’s been a weird weather week for Juneau
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Record-setting heat: Dry, hot weather bring consequences to Southeast

Record-setting heat: Dry, hot weather bring consequences to Southeast

It’s hot, and that’s a problem.

Record-setting heat: Dry, hot weather bring consequences to Southeast
Juneau could have sixth straight year of below average snowfall

Juneau could have sixth straight year of below average snowfall

More snow is coming, but this season still isn’t normal.

Juneau could have sixth straight year of below average snowfall
More than a foot of snow could be coming to Juneau

More than a foot of snow could be coming to Juneau

There’s snow time like the present.

More than a foot of snow could be coming to Juneau
Cold snap coming

Cold snap coming

At least we’re not Chicago.

Cold snap coming
It’s time for snow
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It’s time for snow

Snow falls in downtown Juneau on Jan. 10, 2019. Read more about the winter storm here. Video by Michael Penn | Juneau Empire… Continue reading

It’s time for snow
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Winter storm warning issued for Juneau
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Winter storm warning issued for Juneau

Heavy snowfall predicted.

Winter storm warning issued for Juneau
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Fresh rainwater sits on top of the ice at Auke Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The National Weather Service calls for decreasing clouds and a high of 35 for Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

December was warm, dry until Pineapple Express

Expect more warmth and rain.

Fresh rainwater sits on top of the ice at Auke Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The National Weather Service calls for decreasing clouds and a high of 35 for Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Nordic Ski Club volunteer Doug Sturm sets a cross-country ski track as his dog Jamie follows along on Montana Creek Road on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Taku winds expected to howl through downtown, Douglas

Boaters beware.

Juneau Nordic Ski Club volunteer Doug Sturm sets a cross-country ski track as his dog Jamie follows along on Montana Creek Road on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at Manila Square sports shutter shades and a fresh coat of snow in downtown Juneau on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest opens following morning snowfall

Get those skis waxed.

The Bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at Manila Square sports shutter shades and a fresh coat of snow in downtown Juneau on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Electric rates about to rise

That sunny summer is to blame.

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
In this October 2015 file photo, Maple leaves fall on Seward Street as a pedestrian ducks Friday’s rain in front of City Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

October dampens drought but doesn’t solve it in Southeast Alaska rainforest

For parched Southeast, October’s rainfall brought some needed relief.

In this October 2015 file photo, Maple leaves fall on Seward Street as a pedestrian ducks Friday’s rain in front of City Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Trace snowfall hits Juneau, more expected Thursday evening

Trace snowfall hits Juneau, more expected Thursday evening

Winter is coming.

Trace snowfall hits Juneau, more expected Thursday evening
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)