Juneau, Alaska, residents fled for safety as a glacial outburst flood unleashed chaos. The Mendenhall River, swollen by a sudden release from Suicide Basin, hit a record-breaking 16.65 feet on August 13, 2025. This disaster dwarfed last year’s high-water mark and left locals scrambling.
A glacial lake outburst flood from Suicide Basin triggered the Mendenhall River to crest at 16.65 feet, surpassing the prior record of 15.99 feet set in 2024, forcing evacuations, closing roads, and prompting emergency measures. Water levels in the basin had been dropping since August 9, signaling trouble brewing. The National Weather Service’s flood warning came just in time, but the scale caught many off guard.
Suicide Basin, a side pocket of the Mendenhall Glacier, has been a ticking time bomb since 2011. Its annual outbursts, like the one on October 20, 2024, keep residents on edge. The USGS calls these events unpredictable, and they’re not wrong—nature doesn’t send RSVPs.
The National Weather Service predicted the river would hit between 16.25 and 16.76 feet. Their forecast leaned toward the high end, and Mother Nature delivered with a vengeance. Residents in the 17-foot inundation zone were urged to evacuate until the all-clear signal.
“There is a lot of debris in the river. Please stay away from the river. It’s very dangerous right now,” said Andrew Park, a meteorologist at the NWS in Juneau.
Park’s warning wasn’t just hot air—trees and debris turned the river into a deadly obstacle course. His plea for people to steer clear was a rare moment of government clarity. Progressive types might call it fearmongering, but when nature’s this angry, common sense isn’t optional.
Evacuations kicked into high gear as the Red Cross opened a shelter at a local gymnasium. Displaced families huddled there, waiting for the river to calm. It’s a stark reminder that no amount of climate rhetoric stops a glacier from doing what it wants.
Roads like Mendenhall Loop Road’s Back Loop Bridge shut down tight. They’ll stay closed until the river drops below 12 feet and engineers give the green light. That’s bureaucracy at its finest—safety first, but only after the paperwork’s done.
Local facilities took a hit, too. The Mendenhall Valley Public Library, Diamond Park Field House, and Aquatic Center all shuttered. Fields nearby? Off-limits until the water recedes.
The FAA slapped a Temporary Flight Restriction over the area to keep the skies clear. “This TFR creates controlled airspace to ensure safe aerial operations for geo-hazard monitoring, flood response, and potential evacuations,” said the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities. Sounds reasonable, but you can bet some eco-activists will cry “overreach” while ignoring the helicopters saving lives.
Glacial lake outburst floods, or GLOFs, aren’t new, but they’re brutal. The USGS notes they’ve caused “significant loss of life and infrastructure worldwide.” That’s a polite way of saying these floods don’t mess around, and Juneau’s learning it the hard way.
“These events are unpredictable and have caused significant loss of life and infrastructure worldwide,” the USGS stated. They’re not kidding—when a glacier decides to let loose, no amount of green policy can hold it back. Yet, you’ll still hear calls for more climate studies instead of practical solutions.
The USGS also warned that rising temperatures and melting glaciers could make these disasters worse. “Furthermore, it is unclear how these lake hazards may change as temperatures rise and glaciers continue to melt,” they said. It’s a fair point, but don’t expect the climate crowd to offer anything beyond hand-wringing and tax hikes.
Andrew Park doubled down on the danger: “If you get in that water, you’re not going to make it out of there. So, please, remain away from the river.” His bluntness cuts through the woke fog—sometimes, survival means listening to the obvious.
Juneau’s residents are tough, but this flood tested their grit. As they wait for the river to settle and the all-clear to sound, one thing’s certain: nature doesn’t care about your politics. It’s time for real solutions, not endless debates about the weather.
