Public Safety

The City of Hoonah declared a local emergency this week following heavy snowstorms in the region. 

On Tuesday night, the Hoonah City Council unanimously approved a disaster declaration, which opens the door for the Southeast community to request aid from the state. Gov. Mike Dunleavy approved the declaration Thursday morning. 

Hoonah’s City Administrator, Dennis Gray Jr., says the small community on Chichagof Island has been overwhelmed with the snow and needs assistance. As of yesterday morning, the National Weather Service in Juneau recorded that Hoonah had received at least three feet of snow since late December. 

“We’re facing the same issues that Juneau is,” he said. “We had three boats sink in our harbor. We have two that are still sunk and causing damage to the floats.”

Hoonah’s declaration comes around the same time that city and tribal leaders in Juneau announced a joint disaster declaration after back-to-back snowstorms dumped more than four feet of snow on Juneau.

Gray said Hoonah city staff and residents are struggling to keep up with snow removal on buildings, boats and roads. He said multiple porches and trailers have collapsed or been damaged due to the increasingly heavy snowpack. 

“We had eight men on top of our wastewater plant shoveling off snow to make sure it didn’t collapse,” he said. “It’s just a big mess.”

Gray said the city is requesting assistance from the state primarily to help recover the two large sunken vessels that local equipment is unable to remove from the harbor. 

Both Hoonah and the capital city are bracing for an atmospheric river expected to hit Southeast on Thursday evening that will bring heavy rain and potential flooding. 

Update, Thursday 7 p.m.:

All Juneau schools are now closed Friday due to the storm.

The Juneau School District notified parents and staff of the closure Thursday night and said that no remote instruction will take place Friday.

Update, Thursday 5 p.m.:

As of Thursday afternoon, Juneau School District Chief of Staff Kristen Bartlett said the district hasn’t received information that more schools need to be closed for snow removal. She said the city’s engineering team is monitoring schools daily, and that decisions are made on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s a balancing act of making sure that we’re continuing to educate kids and making sure that everyone can be safe while that’s happening,” Bartlett said. 

Students successfully evacuated to Thunder Mountain Middle School where parents were able to pick them up Thursday afternoon. They have mixed feelings on how the district has handled the winter storm.

Michael Kohan is a parent of a preschooler at Mendenhall River Community School. She said she appreciates the way the district has handled its response to the storm.

“I’m glad that the school took the precautions that they did, to act out of an abundance of caution and move the kids to TM today and cancel school tomorrow to get snow removal taken care of,” she said.

Sarah Overton has multiple children at the school. She said she wishes the schools weren’t open at all this week.

“I’m glad that I was able to come get them and nothing happened, but I feel like they shouldn’t have had school in session at all if there was any sort of concern, and if they hadn’t shoveled the roof,” she said. 

The district expects snow removal at Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx — Glacier Valley Elementary to wrap up Friday as it begins work at Mendenhall River Community School.

Juneau School District Facilities Director Kristy Germain says the school will offer remote learning while closed. 

“That process of clearing the roof will continue through the weekend, is the plan,” Germain said. “And then our public announcement to families also includes that we will be communicating if it needs to continue with remote learning on Monday.”

Original story:

Students and staff at Mendenhall River Community School were evacuated from the elementary school Thursday morning due to growing concern about the snow load on the gym roof. 

In a news release, the Juneau School District said everyone inside the school is being relocated to Thunder Mountain Middle School “out of an abundance of caution” and that “all students and staff are safe.”

The district is instructing families to pick up students after 1 p.m. from the middle school. Parents and guardians should go to the Thunder Mountain gym entrance facing the Dimond Park Aquatics Center for pick up and must show ID. Any Mendenhall River students not picked up by 2:30 p.m. will be sent home on a school bus. 

Crews will start clearing snow from the roof of Mendenhall River school Friday. While the building is closed, the school will offer remote learning.

“Crews will be working through the weekend clearing MRCS. We are hopeful that MRCS will open on Monday, but remote learning may need to be extended into next week if shoveling is not complete,” the district said in the release. 

This comes after back-to-back snowstorms dumped more than four feet of snow on Juneau, leading to the city and tribal governments issuing a joint disaster declaration Tuesday. The district says it will continue to monitor all schools as an atmospheric river is forecast to hit Southeast Alaska late Thursday night. 

The district closed Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx — Glacier Valley Elementary Wednesday to clear snow off its roof and planned to keep it closed the rest of the week. This followed district-wide closures Monday and Tuesday. 

This story has been updated. 

Avalanche professionals are warning backcountry adventurers to stay out of risky terrain after snow slammed the Upper Lynn Canal in late December.

National Weather Service data shows the storm dumped at least 44 inches of snow in Haines, making it the sixth snowiest five-day period in more than two decades. Other reports documented closer to six or seven feet.

“It was definitely one of the higher snowfalls you’ve gotten in five days, pretty much out of all your time that the station’s been there,” said Juneau-based meteorologist Edward Liske.

The dumping has created a risky situation in the backcountry that warrants extreme caution, said Jeff Moskowitz, the director of the Haines Avalanche Center.

His main message: “Avoid being in or around avalanche terrain.”

Earlier this week, Moskowitz dug a snow pit in front of Haines’ historic Fort Seward that confirmed his assessment. Standing chest-deep in the pit, he pointed out layers of snow stacked on top of each other, each representing a different storm.

There was a somewhat fluffy layer on top, from the snowfall in early January. Below that, there was a roughly three-foot-deep layer that was more compact, from the late December storm.

And then there was a thin, feeble layer of snow just inches from the ground that crumbled like sugar when Moskowitz ran his hand through it. That snow was on the ground before the big storm – it’s the layer that could collapse and trigger an avalanche under the weight of more precipitation, snowmachines or humans.

“We have about a meter of really strong snow just sitting over this sugar,” Moskowitz said, calling it a “dangerous combination for avalanches.”

Starting Dec. 27, the situation prompted the center to issue warnings about high avalanche risk in the Haines area. Moskowitz said people should stay off slopes that are greater than 30 degrees – and avoid traveling beneath them.

“It’s just a tricky situation, because there’s lots of snow, and we want to go play,” he said. “But we still have this strong-over-weak layering in most places.”

In some places, he said, the weak layer may be buried so deep that a human or snowmachine wouldn’t trigger it. But in shallower areas, like near trees or rocks. the layer would be closer to the surface and more likely to trigger an avalanche.

“People could ride that slope numerous times until one person finds that weak spot,” he said.

The deluge has stopped for now. But the situation could get worse before it gets better, as temperatures rise and the top layer of snow consolidates into a heavier, thicker slab. New precipitation or other conditions could trigger a natural avalanche cycle, wiping that weak layer out.

“Otherwise, it’s a little bit like a ticking time bomb,” Moskowitz said.

Haines Avalanche Center

The Haines Avalanche Center is a nonprofit and the main source of avalanche information in the Chilkat Valley, which draws backcountry adventurers from around the world. Moskowitz emphasized the importance of donations, grants and borough funding to make that work possible.

In the past, the Haines Borough has asked nonprofits to apply for funding from a $100,000 bucket. But Haines Mayor Tom Morphet said that, amid a steep budget deficit, the assembly discontinued that grant process for fiscal year 2026, which runs through June.

That has meant less funding than usual for the Avalanche Center, which has just three part-time employees, including Moskowitz.

“Less funding means less staff time,” Moskowitz said. “And staff time means that locals who are avalanche professionals and have certifications are out there, digging in the snow, making assessments, posting that information publicly.”

The center posts a general avalanche information product every week, plus a weather forecast and season summary. They also issue advisories when avalanche danger is high, including three days in a row in late December.

But the center does not currently have the funding or staff capacity to consistently publish advisories when avalanche risk is low, moderate or considerable.

“What we don’t want, is that there’s an accident that sparks the public interest in supporting the Avalanche Center,” Moskowitz said. “We just need to maintain the services we provide and just keep it going year after year after year.”

Morphet, the mayor, said the borough and assembly are “acutely aware” of the center’s importance.

Moskowitz said people who recreate in the backcountry can help by paying close attention to their surroundings – and he urged them to send in their observations online.

That could mean details about a human-triggered or natural avalanche, about where the sun has hit the mountains on a particular day, or an observation that feathery crystals – known as surface hoar – have started forming on the snow’s surface.

“There’s very little information that we’re not going to find useful,” Moskowitz said. “All of that is very valuable, and it helps to inform this bigger picture.”

A national support line for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service.

Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support for anonymous and confidential calls from people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

The line is staffed by Native advocates, but Strong Hearts Deputy Executive Officer Rachel Carr-Shunk said there are not yet any Alaska Native people answering phone calls.

That is set to change soon.

“Even though we’re a Native organization and all of our advocates are American Indian, we do recognize that there is a difference for our Alaska Native relatives who experience violence in that context, whether they live in a rural village or they just live in Alaska, which is a different experience,” she said.

Carr-Shunk expects the organization to launch the Alaska-specific line within the next calendar year, after building partnerships in the state.

“When Alaska Native survivors reach out, we want them to trust that they’re going to have someone who understands their experience as an Alaska Native person, or who understands that identity,” she said.

To that end, the organization has hired Anchorage-based Minnie Sneddy, who is originally from Hooper Bay. Sneddy is tasked with explaining Alaska’s regional differences and specific needs to the organization, as well as helping create a database of Alaska resources.

Sneddy has years of experience in behavioral health work and said that her career and life experience have shown her the lack of resources for people who face domestic violence and sexual assault — and how many of those people need mental health support.

“The years I lived in Hooper Bay, and here in Anchorage and Alaska, there’s so many (people) that need help and want help, but they feel like if they do come forward and get help, they get in trouble — not only with their families, but with OCS, Office of Children’s Services,” she said. “I feel like Strong Hearts Native Helpline can help at least allow a person to be heard, because the majority of time, people want to be heard. Everyone just wants to feel seen and be heard.”

Sneddy said she is reaching out to resources that already exist in the state, and Strong Hearts is working with the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center to build out its state-specific service.

Alaska has the third-highest rate of intimate partner violence against women in the nation, and men kill women in Alaska at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country. In a state where nearly half of women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetimes, Alaska Native women are particularly vulnerable.

“We don’t have a voice, really, in the villages,” Sneddy said, adding that when abuse happens: “There’s no help for an individual. And if a woman decides to do something about it, she’s seen as a bad person.”

The Strong Hearts Native Helpline is available now for Alaskans, even though there are not yet Alaska Native advocates on the other end of the line. A full list of Alaska shelters and victim’s services providers can be found in the state directory at law.alaska.gov.

Update, 10:00 a.m.

The City and Borough of Juneau has lifted the remaining avalanche evacuation advisory for the neighborhood below the Behrends Path.

“Risk from avalanche hazard remains elevated and future evacuation advisories are possible. CBJ is actively monitoring and assessing avalanche risk for all other known slide paths and will provide updates as conditions continue to change,” the city wrote in an update. 

The Alaska Department of Transportation has also reopened Thane Road.

Update, Wednesday 9:30 a.m.

After heavy rain and warm temperatures at elevation Tuesday, no avalanche activity has been reported as of Wednesday morning. To better assess current avalanche conditions, officials are waiting to conduct a visual inspection and assessment of the Behrends Path during daylight hours, according to the City and Borough of Juneau. The city will provide updates as they are available.

Update, 11:45 a.m.

The city has updated its avalanche advisory page: “Avalanche risk on the Behrends path is increasing significantly and will peak late today and into tomorrow morning due to heavy rain, high winds and warming temperatures at high elevation.”

An evacuation shelter remains open at Centennial Hall. The city urges people in the Behrends pathway who have not evacuated or have returned to their homes to evacuate now.

Update, Tuesday 10:00 a.m.

The Alaska Department of Transportation will close Thane Road at the avalanche gates today at noon due to elevated avalanche risk.

Update, Monday 7:00 p.m.

All schools in the Juneau School District, including Mendenhall River Community School, are expected to open for in-person classes on Tuesday. This is the first time all schools will be open since the district returned from winter break last Monday.

According to a district email, school buses will run on regular routes, but buses won’t be able to go to these locations:

• 5th Street in Douglas
• Glacier Highway between Highland Drive and Bartlett Regional Hospital
• Thane Road 
• Any trailer parks
• Mendenhall Peninsula Road

The district said families with students who normally leave from trailer parks should call First Student at 907-789-7352 to coordinate pick up.

Parking continues to be unavailable along Glacier Avenue near Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The district encourages students to take the school bus to and from school. Students can also park at Thunder Mountain Middle School and take a school bus from there.

Update, 8:00 p.m. 

Mendenhall River Community School will remain closed Monday as crews continue snow removal efforts. MRCS students will move to remote learning. All other schools in the Juneau School District will be open with regular schedules Monday.

More rain is expected early Tuesday, when another storm could come through Juneau. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch starting Tuesday evening. 

City facilities, including libraries and pools, will reopen Monday after being closed since Friday. 

Update, 7:15 p.m. 

The city has rescinded the avalanche evacuation alert for all known slide paths except for Behrends Avenue. Centennial Hall remains open as an evacuation shelter.

Free parking in downtown city-owned parking garages will end Monday at 8 a.m. Anyone who took advantage of the free parking while the city allowed it should move their car before then if they don’t have a permit to park in the Marine or Downtown Transit Center parking garages, otherwise they may be ticketed.

Update, 1:00 p.m. 

Fred Meyer grocery store is open after being closed for several days due to concerns about snow load on the roof.

Update, Sunday 11:30 a.m. 

The Flood Advisory has ended and Thane Road has reopened, though closures are still possible.

Update, 7:00 p.m. 

The National Weather Service has extended its flood advisory to 10 a.m. Sunday.

It was initially set to end at 9 p.m. on Saturday. NWS reports that water continues to pool on side streets and low-lying areas.

-Alix Soliman

Update, 6:45 p.m. 

The emergency warming shelter is moving from the Glacier Valley Elementary School gym back to the warehouse off of Thane Road tonight. The shelter will reopen at 9 p.m.

The shelter moved to the school Friday night due to avalanche concerns. Deputy City Manager Robert Barr told KTOO that drone assessments made today by the Alaska Department of Transportation showed avalanche risk has decreased in that specific area. 

“Our conclusion is that the amount of snow left in that path is extremely unlikely to cross Thane Road and impact that facility,” Barr said.

But he said avalanche risk remains high in all other known avalanche zones, including Thane Road south of the avalanche gates and the Behrends and White slide paths. An avalanche evacuation advisory remains in effect for those areas and Thane Road is still closed past the gates. 

“We’ll continue to monitor, assess and communicate risk about all of those other slide paths,” Barr said.

The emergency shelter at Centennial Hall remains open for people evacuating their homes due to unsafe conditions.

– Alix Soliman

Update, Saturday 1:40 p.m.

The City and Borough of Juneau continues to monitor roof loads and the safety of its public buildings as some roofs increase in weight and others decrease.

The city has teams working at Mendenhall River Community School, as well as at Bartlett Regional Hospital, where roof loads are nearing capacity. 

Sixty people are currently working to clear the hospital’s roof, said Bartlett CEO Joe Wanner during a press briefing Saturday morning.

“We’re predominantly focused on patient care areas that have the highest loads. You know, we’re kind of looking at buildings that are showing stress at this point, which will be our admin building,” Wanner said. 

He asked people going to the hospital to not park near the buildings.

“We will be offloading the roofs onto the areas next to the buildings. We will try to put cones and barriers up to mark those areas, but I just ask everyone to stay out of those areas.” 

Wanner added that many parking spots have been closed off due to the massive amounts of snow, and a lot of heavy machinery is moving around the area. 

“At this point, everything is moving in the right direction, and so we don’t anticipate any changes to services as of today,” he said. 

In other infrastructure updates, the city moved the location of its emergency warming shelter from its facility in Thane due to avalanche hazard. First, the shelter was moved to Marie Drake building midday Friday, then to Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary. The elementary school had previously been closed earlier this week due to roof snow removal.

“That ended up being the only JSD/CBJ facility that was tenable for that space,” Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said during the Saturday press conference. 

Barr said the city is actively figuring out another CBJ location for the warming shelter if avalanche risk continues and Thane continues to not be an option.

“There is no scenario where the warming shelter will continue to exist at a school once a school is in operation again, so it will be moving from Glacier Valley. We are working on whether or not that move can happen today or if that move must happen tomorrow. But one of those two things is our goal for that operation,” he said.

– Lisa Phu

Correction: Capital Transit is not running between Bartlett Regional Hospital and the Federal Building. 

Update, 1:15 p.m.

Juneau continues to face flooding and avalanches, with more rain expected Saturday.

Aaron Jacobs, senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Juneau, said the weather pattern the city has seen — with record-breaking early-season snowfall followed by warmer temperatures and rain — is uncommon for Juneau.

“These are unprecedented times,” Jacobs said at a press briefing Saturday morning. “The amount of snowpack that we are seeing on the ground at the airport, and then this massive warm-up that we’re seeing, really hasn’t been seen in the climate records.”

Jacobs said extreme weather events are expected to happen more often due to climate change, but he can’t tie a short-term weather pattern directly to long-term climate trends.

A flood advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday. NWS encourages residents to report weather-related impacts to juneau.weather@noaa.gov.

Jacobs said this atmospheric river brought about 4 to 8 inches of snow, followed by 1 to 2 inches of rain so far, and winds up to around 35 miles per hour at sea level and up to 60 miles per hour at Eaglecrest. More rain is expected today, and another storm could come through Juneau next week.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said that flooding due to clogged storm drains is already impacting buildings, but the city doesn’t yet have a grasp of the extent.

“Water is starting to move into buildings and structures and basements,” Barr said. “We know that water is very damaging to facilities. It’s important to document.”

The city is asking residents to submit damage reports to emergencyresponse@juneau.gov.

Barr said residents who witness flooding on city-owned roads before 4 p.m. should call (907) 586-5256.

For urgent flooding on all roads, or after 4 p.m., residents can call the Juneau Police Department non-emergency line at (907) 586-0600.

For flooding on Alaska DOT&PF roads, leave a message at: (907) 465-4655

An avalanche evacuation advisory is still in effect for residents in all known slide paths downtown and along Thane Road. Centennial Hall remains open as an emergency shelter.

John Bressette, the city’s new avalanche advisor, said multiple avalanches happened on Mount Juneau on known slide paths including White Pass, Chop Gully near Flume Trail and above Behrends Avenue. He said he doesn’t know exactly how many occurred, but that it’s somewhere in the double-digits.

He said avalanche conditions stabilized a bit overnight when temperatures cooled and rain stopped. But the hazard is high again today.

“We are expecting things to ramp back up today as rain comes back in,” Bressette said.

Thane Road remains closed. Pat Dryer is an avalanche forecaster at the Alaska Department of Transportation. According to the agency’s infrasound detection system, he said eight to 10 avalanches came near Thane Road yesterday.

“The hazard remains elevated above Thane Road, and we’ll be conducting drone reconnaissance in partnership with CBJ this afternoon to further assess current conditions,” he said.

The city advises residents living in an avalanche zone to remain clear of those areas until the city advises otherwise.

Barr said that it’s still too early to know how much this disaster will cost in resources and damages. “All I can tell you right now is that it is going to be substantial. We’re talking in the millions of dollars,” he said.

– Alix Soliman

Update, Saturday 10:00 a.m.

The City and Borough of Juneau will hold another briefing at 10:30 a.m. today about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response. City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.

Thane Road currently remains closed at the avalanche gates.

The Juneau Arts and Culture Center will be closed today in order to serve as a supplemental emergency shelter if necessary. According to the city, 47 people stayed at Centennial Hall last night.

Update, 9:45 p.m.

Eaglecrest Ski Area has posted an uphill travel closure beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday while crews work on avalanche mitigation. More conditions and status updates can be found here.

Update, 8:30 p.m.

All City and Borough of Juneau facilities will be closed Saturday and Sunday. That includes all public libraries, the Juneau Douglas City Museum, pools and parks and recreation facilities and the recycling center and hazardous waste facility. The Shéiyi X̱aat Hit Youth Shelter will remain open.

Update, 7:45 p.m.

The avalanche evacuation advisory remains in effect. As a reminder, The American Red Cross of Alaska has opened an emergency shelter at Centennial Hall (101 Egan Drive) for those evacuating the avalanche hazard area. Mass care support, feeding services and pet sheltering are available at Centennial Hall.

Parking is available in the lot between Juneau Arts & Culture Center and Centennial Hall. Residents with questions, concerns, or that have been displaced from their home due to the winter storm can call 1-800-RED-CROS for information and follow-up. According to a City and Borough of Juneau public service announcement, residents that are unable to vacate their homes and need transportation assistance to access emergency sheltering should call 911 for assistance.

Update, 7 p.m.

Update, 6:30 p.m.:

According to a city release, the winter emergency warming shelter operated by St. Vincent De Paul is not moving to Marie Drake due to unsafe conditions. Instead, it’s moving from its previous location within the known avalanche hazard area at 1325 Eastaugh Way off of Thane Road to Glacier Valley Elementary School. The shelter will be open at 9:00 p.m.

“The roofs at both Centennial Hall and GVES have been surveyed by a structural engineer and deemed safe for occupancy,” the release says.

Update, 6:15 p.m.:

The Alaska Department of Transportation has detected several slides in the Thane Road area.

Update, 3:25 p.m.:

The emergency warming shelter located on Thane Road is relocating due to avalanche danger.

Update, 3:00 p.m.:

The city is warning residents that roads are beginning to flood, and the snow on roofs is getting heavier.

At the city briefing earlier, National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Ferrin said the heaviest rain is expected to fall throughout the day Friday into the evening. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch across Southeast Alaska this morning that will last through the weekend. 

“We do have a flood watch that remains in effect for localized flooding, ponding of water on roadways and other hazards that can come out of that, like hydroplaning and things like that,” she said.

The existing snowpack, with some berms over five feet tall in parts of town, is blocking drainage on roads. She said cars can get stuck in the high water, which residents are sharing videos of on social media.

 

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“If you’re not sure how deep the water is across a roadway or otherwise, or if you don’t know if your vehicle can make it through, then find an alternate route,” Ferrin said. “If your tailpipe is reaching the level of the water, then you could easily get stuck and cause more issues there also.”

And as the rain falls, the existing snowpack absorbs it “like a sponge” making it heavier, Ferrin said that additional weight may increase the risk of roofs collapsing.

The city advises anyone who is not in an avalanche evacuation area to stay at home and off the roads while crews work to clear storm drains and make them safe for travel again.

-Yvonne Krumrey

Update, 12:30 p.m.:

Capital Transit has suspended service along Glacier Highway in areas in the avalanche zone.

“Our team at Capital Transit has suspended bus service along Glacier Highway in that avalanche area … that really looks like between the federal building and the hospital on Glacier Highway,” said Ryan O’Shaughnessy, the emergency programs manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, during the city’s briefing Friday. “Capital Transit routes are still running on Egan, but stops that are located along Glacier Highway are not being serviced at this time due to avalanche risk.”

Update, 11 a.m.:

An avalanche evacuation alert has been issued for all downtown Juneau residents in slide zones. An emergency shelter is being set up at Centennial Hall in downtown Juneau.

“This evacuation advisory is made with the safety of Juneau residents in mind,” the alert from the City and Borough of Juneau reads. “This decision is not made lightly and CBJ realizes that evacuating under extreme weather conditions may be difficult. Again, the safety of Juneau residents is our main factor in making this evacuation advisory.”

Update, Friday 10 a.m.:

The City and Borough of Juneau will hold a presentation at 11:30 a.m. about avalanche risk and ongoing storm response.

City, state and tribal staff will share information and the National Weather Service will provide an update. Tune in live on the radio 104.3 FM or 91.7 FM or watch here.

Update, Thursday 6:45 p.m.:

All Juneau schools are closed Friday in anticipation of heavy rain and snow.

The Juneau School District notified parents and staff of the closure Thursday night and said that no remote instruction will take place Friday.

“For the safety of our students, staff and families, all classes, meetings, and activities are canceled. The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Hockey games at Treadwell are also canceled.”

City engineers and maintenance staff will continue to monitor the roofs of school facilities.

The University of Alaska Southeast’s Juneau campus will also operate remotely Friday.

All City and Borough of Juneau facilities are closed Friday as well. That includes city hall, city offices, public libraries and parks and recreation facilities.

Residents are once again encouraged to stay off the roads. Capital Transit will continue running on winter routes.

Update, Thursday 6 p.m.:

The City & Borough of Juneau sent out an alert Thursday evening warning residents that the avalanche risk is “very likely to significantly increase” in the next 24 hours due to the atmospheric river making landfall. The alert is not an evacuation advisory. 

The Alaska Department of Transportation will close Thane Road Friday at noon and will re-evaluate the closure at 8 a.m. on Saturday. But the city said in its alert that Thane residents should be prepared for extended road closures.

Original story:

As the state of Alaska responds to Juneau’s disaster declaration, the capital city is bracing for heavy rain and potential flooding from an atmospheric river expected to hit Southeast late Thursday night. 

This comes after back-to-back snowstorms dumped more than four feet of snow on Juneau. The city and tribal governments issued a joint disaster declaration Tuesday, requesting help from the state as local resources have been stretched thin. 

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch in Juneau for Friday morning through Saturday evening. 

At a press conference held in coordination with city, state and tribal officials Wednesday evening, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Nicole Ferrin said the agency expects the storm to bring both snow and rain to Juneau. 

“The most likely scenario right now is for anywhere from four to five inches of snow out of that event,” Ferrin said. “But if the warm-up takes a little bit longer into the day on Friday, then we could see upwards of possibly seven inches of snow before we change to rain.”

She says the heaviest rain is expected to hit Juneau on Friday. 

Streets have already been pooling with water due to warming temperatures and rain, and Ferrin said to expect road conditions to worsen with the deluge coming while snow and ice block drainage. 

But she said the agency is not expecting snowmelt to cause much of the flooding at this point. 

“The snow itself will absorb a lot of the water, because we had some dry layers in there initially,” she said. 

Yesterday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy verbally approved Juneau’s disaster declaration. 

“That verbal declaration carries the weight of law,” said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, during the press briefing. “He activated the state’s public assistance program, which is to fund repairs to damaged critical infrastructure and also to help with emergency response costs.”

In addition to helping clear roofs of public buildings like schools, water treatment facilities and Bartlett Regional Hospital, the state also plans to help dig out storm drains and fire hydrants. 

But state and city officials said that the assistance from this declaration will not include helping local residents or businesses clear snow from their roofs. 

“The declaration and assistance from the state is unfortunately not available to help clear snow from private residences or commercial properties,” said Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at a special Juneau Assembly meeting Wednesday evening, where the city adopted a resolution approving the disaster declaration.

Barr said the state’s individual assistance program is designed to help private residences, but only after property has been damaged. The program doesn’t prevent damage.

Barr said the city has been prioritizing shoveling the roofs of public buildings based on how close each building is to its designed snow load capacity, which he said staff have been measuring daily or sometimes more often. 

“Some are quite close, very few — only one that I’m aware of right now — are over [weight capacity],” Barr said. “That’s the Auke Bay Fire Station. So we’ve limited occupancy to that, and we’ll be addressing it as quickly as we can.”

Pat Dryer, an avalanche forecaster at the Alaska Department of Transportation, said the agency is anticipating road closures due to the potential for large avalanches. 

“Given the current weather outlook, we’re anticipating heavy snowfall, heavy rain and warming temperatures at higher elevations,” he said. “This will lead to rapid rises in avalanche hazard, specifically for Thane Road.”

City officials said that state assistance could include committing additional personnel to the avalanche hazard, flying helicopter-mounted LIDAR flights to monitor the risk and potentially ordering radar systems. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The City and Borough of Juneau held a presentation at 4 p.m. Wednesday about the city’s disaster declaration and ongoing avalanche risk.

City, state and tribal staff shared information about the ongoing snowstorm response and the National Weather Service provided an update on the heavy rain expected to arrive later this week.