The recent flooding that occurred in Juneau, Alaska was caused by a smaller glacier near the Mendenhall Glacier retreating due to climate change, leaving a basin that fills with rainwater and snowmelt each spring and summer. When the water creates enough pressure, it forces its way under or around the ice dam created by the Mendenhall Glacier, leading to flooding in the area. This week’s flooding was unprecedented and left residents shaken as they tried to dry out belongings after their homes were inundated, resulting in piles of garbage and debris on the streets.
While climate change played a role in the creation of the basin, year-to-year variations in the flooding volumes are not directly linked to it. The flooding in Juneau is expected to persist on a decadal timescale in the future, but the extent of future floods is difficult to predict without more detailed modeling of glacier dynamics. At some point, the Mendenhall Glacier will retreat and thin to the point where it can no longer act as a dam, leading to potentially larger floods.
The Mendenhall River, which crested at a new record level during the recent flooding, inundated homes in the Mendenhall Valley, extending beyond expected flood areas. Residents were forced to evacuate to shelters as the water rose, with some losing belongings and vehicles to the current. Juneau, a city with limited access by plane or boat, is currently facing challenges in providing temporary accommodations and transportation for flood victims due to a housing shortage and limited rental car agencies.
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