Evacuations in Alaska after glacial melt raises fears of record flooding

August 13, 2025

Alaska's capital city, Juneau, is facing potential record-breaking flooding as meltwater escapes from a basin dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning, with water levels already exceeding 16 feet by Wednesday morning, surpassing the major flooding threshold of 14 feet. Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a state disaster in response to this "imminent threat of catastrophic flooding," which experts note is part of a growing trend of glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) exacerbated by climate change.

Who is affected

Residents of Juneau, Alaska, particularly those with homes near the Mendenhall River
Local communities in the flood warning area
Tourists and visitors to the Mendenhall Glacier area
Hundreds of residents whose homes were damaged in previous floods

What action is being taken

Residents are evacuating their homes
The National Weather Service is monitoring water levels and has issued a flood warning
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued a state disaster declaration
Local officials are warning residents about potential evacuation needs

Why it matters

This flooding is expected to reach record-breaking levels
Homes and property in the Mendenhall River area are at significant risk
The incident represents a growing global trend of glacier lake outburst floods
The phenomenon is linked to climate change and rising temperatures causing glacier shrinkage
Similar flooding in the area has caused substantial damage in previous years, including hundreds of damaged residences in 2022

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC