Weather

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)
The William Seward statue wears a cape of fresh snow in the Dimond Courthouse Plaza on March 27. Despite the snowfall, March precipitation was well below normal. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

March continues abnormally dry conditions in northern Southeast Alaska

Southern Southeast’s rainforest is enduring rare drought conditions, and while northern Southeast missed the official drought cutoff, March will go into the weather record books… Continue reading

The William Seward statue wears a cape of fresh snow in the Dimond Courthouse Plaza on March 27. Despite the snowfall, March precipitation was well below normal. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The William Seward statue wears a cape of fresh snow in the Dimond Courthouse Plaza on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Late-March snowstorm almost equals month’s average

This week’s snowstorm brought almost a month’s worth of snow to Juneau, according to measurements taken at Juneau International Airport, the city’s official measuring station.… Continue reading

The William Seward statue wears a cape of fresh snow in the Dimond Courthouse Plaza on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Fog is seen on Douglas Island Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees Tuesday for the first time this year and rapidly erode Juneau’s remaining sea-level snow. (Juneau Empire) Fog is seen on Douglas Island Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees Tuesday for the first time this year and rapidly erode Juneau’s remaining sea-level snow. (Juneau Empire)

Temperature may reach 50 degrees Tuesday

The National Weather Service expects Juneau will experience the first 50-degree day of the year Tuesday. According to forecasts, warm air will enter Southeast Alaska… Continue reading

Fog is seen on Douglas Island Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees Tuesday for the first time this year and rapidly erode Juneau’s remaining sea-level snow. (Juneau Empire) Fog is seen on Douglas Island Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees Tuesday for the first time this year and rapidly erode Juneau’s remaining sea-level snow. (Juneau Empire)
Parked vehicles and piles of snow line 11th Street on Thursday, March 1, 2018. February was cold and the forecast for March is for more of the same. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

February was coldest since ‘94

Juneau has just finished its coldest February since 1994, according to the National Weather Service office here, and climate forecasters say they expect chilly conditions… Continue reading

Parked vehicles and piles of snow line 11th Street on Thursday, March 1, 2018. February was cold and the forecast for March is for more of the same. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gwen Baluss rides her bike back from a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier on the frozen lake surface on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Coldest January in six years is still above normal

It was only cold because it’s been so warm. According to the National Weather Service, January’s weather here was almost exactly normal for the capital… Continue reading

Gwen Baluss rides her bike back from a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier on the frozen lake surface on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Tropical heat wave sends temperatures to record levels

For a brief moment Sunday, the southernmost tip of Alaska was warmer than the southernmost tip of Florida. At 2:27 p.m. in Metlakatla, it was… Continue reading

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