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Juneau Battles Surging Glacial Floods as Climate Change Impacts Intensify
13 Aug
Summary
- Timelapse video shows dramatic increase in water levels at Juneau's glacial lake
- Glacial outbursts have become an annual threat to the city since 2011
- Juneau officials warn of major flooding for several more hours on August 14, 2025
On August 14, 2025, the city of Juneau, Alaska is grappling with a significant flooding event triggered by a "glacial outburst" that has inundated a nearby river. Timelapse video footage has captured the dramatic increase in water levels at Mendenhall Lake and a lake north of Nugget Creek over the past month.
This is the third consecutive year that Juneau has faced such a threat, as glacial lake outburst floods have become an annual occurrence in the region since 2011. Scientists attribute these floods to the effects of climate change, as Alaska warms faster than any other U.S. state and its glaciers are among the fastest melting on Earth.
According to the latest updates from the National Weather Service, the Mendenhall River has surpassed record levels seen in the previous two years, when similar glacial lake outburst events caused extensive damage to homes and structures. As of 8:30 a.m. local time on August 14, 2025, the river stood at 15.92 feet and was falling after reaching a peak of 16.65 feet. City officials have warned that affected areas downriver will remain in major flood stage for several more hours.
