Juneau, Alaska recently experienced a flood warning as a result of an outburst from a glacial lake, occurring on Saturday. Suicide Basin, located adjacent to Mendenhall Glacier, has been known to produce glacier lake outburst floods annually since 2011, leading to flooding in areas surrounding Mendenhall Lake and the Mendenhall River.

Nicole Serrin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, provided an update, stating, “We expect moderate flooding from this event, not major flooding.” She noted that residents would have a timeframe of 24 to 36 hours to appropriately prepare for potential flooding, with the warning set to remain active until Monday.

According to forecasts, the river was predicted to peak at approximately 11 to 11.5 feet (3.35 to 3.5 meters) early in the day, as reported by weather officials. Authorities cautioned the public to avoid the river area due to the recent snowfall, which has made the riverbanks particularly treacherous.

Suicide Basin collects rainwater and runoff from melting snow during the spring and summer months. Eventually, it accumulates enough pressure to break through channels carved underneath the Mendenhall Glacier. Over the past few months, the basin has begun refilling with fall rain, but meteorologists are uncertain about how quickly it may drain or whether it will empty completely.

In August, a similar flood event led to significant damage, affecting approximately 100 homes and several businesses when floodwaters encroached upon local neighborhoods. During that incident, the Mendenhall River peaked at a record height of 15.99 feet (4.9 meters), surpassing the previous year’s flood level by about one foot and extending much further into Mendenhall Valley, officials confirmed.

Juneau, home to roughly 30,000 residents, is situated in the southeastern part of Alaska and is accessible primarily by air or sea. As the situation unfolds, local authorities are monitoring the river levels and providing guidance to ensure the safety of the community.