Taku River glacial outburst flood warning in effect until 11 p.m. tonight

A glacial lake outburst flood on the Taku River is ongoing, with an alert in effect for the City and Borough of Juneau until 11 p.m. AKDT tonight.

Anyone on or near the Taku River or Taku Inlet should expect rapid, unpredictable rises in water levels and debris in the channel. The City and Borough of Juneau has previously warned mariners in prior outburst events that "rapid river rises will cause minor flooding" and that boats in the area "should watch for additional debris in the water."

Juneau has dealt with glacial outburst floods every year since 2011, most of them tied to Suicide Basin, a side basin of Mendenhall Glacier above the city. The 2024 event released an estimated 14.6 billion gallons of water and damaged more than 100 structures. USGS scientists who monitor the area have documented that floods "reached record levels in 2023 and 2024" with "extensive erosion and loss of property."

Tuesday's alert covers the Taku River corridor, which sits southeast of the Mendenhall drainage but is subject to the same class of glacial release event. CBJ Emergency Programs has advised mariners to monitor conditions and watch for debris along the river and Taku Inlet.

The USDA Northwest Climate Hub has noted that warming temperatures are increasing the number and size of glacial lakes across Alaska, raising the likelihood of outburst events over time. The hub has documented that climate change-driven glacier retreat is forming new glacial lakes that "can pose new hazards to communities and infrastructure downstream."

Stay Informed

Residents can monitor basin conditions at weather.gov/ajk/suicidebasin. The Juneau Glacial Flood Dashboard, maintained by the University of Alaska Southeast, provides maps and preparedness tools at juneauflood.org. Questions can be directed to CBJ Emergency Programs at [email protected].