Avalanche Hazard Update
Current Snowpack Discussion- 3/12/2026 (6:40AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Current Snowpack Discussion- 3/11/2026 (6:40AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Current Snowpack Discussion- 3/10/2026 (6:50AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Current Snowpack Discussion- 3/9/2026 (9:20AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Current Snowpack Discussion- 3/8/2026 (7:30AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Current Snowpack Discussion:
3/7/2026 (8:20AM)
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
March 6th-
Hazard remains elevated and will be increasing through today. We have seen nine smaller natural avalanches detected on Mt. Juneau since early yesterday morning. These smaller slides are helpful in reducing the risk of a larger, more destructive avalanche. There were also several smaller avalanches observed along the Thane Road corridor and outside of the Mt. Juneau detection zones.
Today the freezing level is expected to rise as high as 4000 ft. bringing rain to upper elevation start zones and further stressing known weak layers within the snowpack. More avalanche activity is expected today and overnight as liquid water saturates the snowpack. These avalanches could be larger than what we’ve seen so far but are still not expected to reach homes or infrastructure.
We remain in “set” mode within the ready, set, go framework. Conditions are being monitored continually and updates will be provided as conditions change.
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
March 5th-
Hazard remains elevated today with continued snowfall and warming temperatures. Temperatures at sea level are near freezing and snow will likely transition to rain later today (Thursday) or tomorrow. With wet heavy snow falling on top of lighter dry snow we are seeing weak layers within the snowpack being stressed. Multiple relatively small avalanches on Mt. Juneau and on Thane Road were detected this morning. These smaller avalanches are a good thing in the fact that they reduce the risk of larger more destructive avalanches.
As we transition to a rain on snow event with temperatures expected to climb and freezing levels expected to rise to ridgetops, natural avalanches will remain likely and hazard will remain elevated. We may still see some large powder clouds from smaller avalanches but as rain begins to saturate the snowpack that will become less likely and debris will be wet and slower moving. At this time debris from avalanches is not expected to reach homes or infrastructure. Conditions will be continuously monitored and updates will be provided as conditions change. We remain in “set” mode within the ready, set, go framework.
If hazard risk elevates to red or “Go,” CBJ will update this page and send an Alert via email and text to all Emergency Alerts subscribers.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
March 4th-
Hazard remains elevated with continued snowfall throughout today and into tonight. Snowfall totals and Northerly winds were less than expected overnight leading to a lull in avalanche activity although one small slide was detected on the Behrends path last night. Fieldwork from the Mt. Roberts tram yesterday proved that wind slab and a freezing rain crust from the evening of February 28th were both widespread and reactive to triggering. We will continually monitor these layers of concern. Natural avalanches with fast moving large powder clouds remain possible today.
Looking ahead to this evening, winds are expected to shift to the Southeast bringing rising temperatures and possibly rain to sea level. This may lead to an upside-down snowpack with wetter and heavier snow sitting on top of lighter dry snow, as well as the wind slab and rain crust described above.
Due to these conditions, we remain in “set” mode with hazard likely increasing again tonight and into tomorrow as we monitor the potential thaw from warming conditions. Updates will be provided on this page as conditions change.
February 3-Numerous natural avalanches were detected today (Tuesday) on the Behrends path and on the Gold Creek paths above the Flume as well as one along Thane Road. Hazard is elevated and will be on the rise tonight as heavy snowfall and continued North winds are in the forecast. Large powder clouds reached Basin Road today and could possibly reach homes or roadways in the urban paths, obstructing visibility. While this is not an evacuation advisory, residents should be aware that the hazard is elevated and pay attention to updates as conditions change. It is important to note that the Gold Creek and Thane paths have a much higher frequency of large avalanches than Mt. Juneau’s urban paths due to the fact that they are more prone to wind loading from North winds. Conditions will be monitored overnight and an update will be posted here in the morning.
In terms of risk to homes and infrastructure in mapped pathways, we have moved to the yellow or “Set” stage of the “Ready, Set, Go” readiness framework.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
February 26th: Urban avalanche paths have received around a foot of new snow over the last week. The bulk of that snow came in warm and wet and bonded well to old snow surfaces. Temperatures began to drop yesterday and the new snow that came in overnight and this morning is light and dry leading to a right side up snowpack. That being said this new snow will be readily available for wind transport as the wind direction begins to shift to Northerly outflow winds and increases. As this happens sensitive wind slabs may begin to grow in start zones and a natural avalanche cycle similar to last weekend is likely. These avalanches may produce powder clouds that could obscure visibility near homes or roadways but are not likely to impact homes or infrastructure. CBJ continues to monitor and assess conditions and will provide updates as conditions change.
February 6th: Unseasonably warm temperatures and rain have been the norm lately. With all the rain we’ve received lately the snowpack has been greatly diminished with run out zones having almost no snow left and start zones having been drastically reduced. The snowpack has handled this transition quite well with no avalanche activity observed lately and weak layers within the snowpack have gained strength. With a possible trend toward more seasonable cooler temps in the forecast for next week we could see a transition back to snow especially in upper elevation start zones. CBJ will continue to monitor the weather and snowpack as conditions change and will update as needed. At this time natural avalanches are unlikely to occur but are still possible, with much smaller amounts of snow in start zones and high friction snowless runout zones any avalanche activity is not expected to reach homes or infrastructure.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Previous Post, January 26th, 1:20pm: Snow returned to the region yesterday evening continuing overnight and into today. This new snow started out light and dry before turning to wet and heavy. 5-6 inches of new snow has fallen at sea level with 8-9 inches at upper elevations. Last weeks clear sky and temperature inversions have led to a firm icy snow surface layer that was followed by light snow and now heavy wet snow on top of that leading to what is called an upside down snowpack. As temperatures and freezing levels rise this will add more stress to the snowpack. Natural avalanches are likely but due to diminished snow levels and high friction run out zones no avalanches are expected to reach homes or infrastructure at this time. As always we will continue to monitor and assess the conditions and provide updates as necessary.
Previous Post, January 15th: No new avalanche activity was detected overnight on the Behrends path. A few inches of new snow fell in the upper elevation start zones but is not enough to significantly raise the hazard level or cause stress to the snowpack. After the significant warming and huge amount of rain we received this week, the snowpack will need some time to adjust and settle. This means natural avalanches are still possible but unlikely to reach homes. Avalanche crews are standing by to utilize breaks in the weather to fly to Mt. Juneau and further assess snow depth and snowpack structure. Updates will be provided as available.
Previous Post, January 14, 10:00AM: After last night’s heavy rains, strong winds, and freezing levels to above 4,000 ft. the upper elevation start zones were loaded and did not produce any further avalanche activity in any known urban paths. CBJ’s new radar avalanche detection system is confirmed to be live and operational and was instrumental in monitoring the situation overnight. This morning AKDOT&PF was able to launch a drone flight to further assess the snowpack in all portions of the Behrends path. Conclusions are that start zones have been broken up by snow levels being reduced, runout zone snow levels were reduced and hold significantly more vegetation and bare earth, and the risk of a large avalanche that could reach homes has dropped to acceptable levels. While we are not completely out of the woods yet today’s assessment combined with temperatures at elevation returning to below freezing and forecasted weather for the next few days being relatively tame, risk to homes and lives has been reduced. Residents are encouraged to stay aware, watch for updates, and be prepared to take action as needed. CBJ will continue to monitor and assess the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Posted January 13: Hazard will be on the rise this afternoon (Tuesday, January 13) as the National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement that may bring 1.5 – 3.5 inches of rain today and into tomorrow (Wednesday), along with wind gusts potentially reaching 65 mph, and freezing levels rising from 3000 – 5000 feet.
Hazard will peak late this evening and into tonight as the snowpack in the upper start zones of the Behrends path become saturated and weighted with liquid rain water, testing the strength of buried weak layers. ADOT&PF is closing Thane Road at 12 p.m. (noon) today and reevaluating at 6 a.m. Wednesday. For these reasons, and the safety of residents, the evacuation advisory remains in effect for the Behrends path only. CBJ realizes that this extended evacuation advisory is extremely inconvenient and that residents are feeling fatigued. Late today and into tomorrow morning the hazard will be peaking with the likelihood of large avalanches significantly increasing during that time. If you live in the Behrends pathway and have not evacuated or have returned to your home, please evacuate now.
Again, CBJ would like to reiterate that this extended evacuation advisory is not made lightly and is done for the safety of impacted residents.
Posted, January 12, 7:00AM: Hazard remains elevated but at acceptable levels of risk for all paths other than the Behrends pathway. With non-rain impacted snow still poised at the upper start zones of the Behrends path, the potential for large avalanches remains and the evacuation advisory is still in effect for the Behrends path only.
Please remember to avoid known avalanche paths and if you have to travel through them do so without stopping or lingering.
Conditions are being monitored and assessed constantly and we will provide updates as necessary.
Posted January 11, 6:35PM: With some clearer weather today we were able to get eyes on and utilize drone recon to further assess Juneau’s urban avalanche paths. The Behrends Avenue path has a large undisturbed pocket of snow near the summit that has yet to release and will see added stress with continued rain and elevated freezing levels. In addition, we were able to corelate a small pocket of snow that released and was responsible for a debris pile that ended near the end of Judy Lane not far from Behrends Avenue. With this assessment we have determined that if the upper slopes of the Behrends Path were to release there is adequate snow to potentially reach and damage homes along Behrends Avenue. We were also able to determine that the combination of previous slides and low amounts of snow in start zones in all other urban paths has brought the risk paths outside of the Behrends Path back down to levels acceptable for CBJ to lift the evacuation advisory and for people to return to their homes.
To be clear, CBJ is lifting the advisory in all paths except for the Behrends Path. Unfortunately the risk in that area has not been reduced enough to recommend that residents in that area return home. As always, we will continue to monitor, assess, and inform as things progress and change.
Posted January 11 (7:00AM): Heavy rainfall and elevated freezing levels continued overnight and into this morning continuing to weaken the snowpack and keep hazard elevated. Unfortunately the situation has not changed much since the beginning of this atmospheric river rain event. Yesterday (January 10), in collaboration with AKDOT&PF we were able to utilize drone reconnaissance on some parts of the Behrends Avenue avalanche path where we did see large amounts of debris, some of which stopped just short of Behrends Avenue. Due to weather constraints we were not able to reach the upper portions of the path to determine how much has slid and what remains for future avalanches. These efforts will continue today (Sunday) as weather allows to help us determine the remaining hazard and risk.
Evacuation advisory remains in effect as we continue to monitor and assess this very dynamic and ever changing avalanche problem.
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John Bressette recently joined CBJ as the Avalanche Advisor. John is a seasoned avalanche forecaster and backcountry mountain professional based in Juneau, Alaska. John has over 30 years of experience skiing and exploring Southeast Alaska’s mountain terrain. His forecasting background includes work for Alaska Electric Light & Power (AELP) and the Coastal Alaska Avalanche Center, applying his deep knowledge of snow science and local mountain conditions to help manage avalanche risk in both recreational and infrastructure settings.
For more information about Avalanche Preparedness, visit bit.ly/cbjavalanche.