As of 5 p.m., August 13, the 2026 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Unified Command is pleased to share that the flood threat from Suicide Basin has ended. Water has receded and evacuated areas are now open to residents only.  

Please continue to use caution around damaged areas and avoid riverbanks. Do not drive through standing water, which can be unsafe and generate waves that cause additional damage to nearby structures. 

Pedestrian traffic on top of Brotherhood Bridge sidewalks is open. Back Loop Bridge remains closed while the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities assesses bridge safety. Visit 511.alaska.gov for closure updates. 

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Parks & Recreation facilities in the evacuation zone will reopen with regular hours tomorrow, August 14. The Mendenhall Valley Library will remain closed through Friday, August 14. 

Damage assessments are currently underway. The Flood Information Hotline at 907-500-0890 is available until 9 p.m. today to answer questions. The hotline will shift to an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule starting tomorrow.

The 2026 Unified Command and the more than 15 local, tribal, state, federal and non-profit partner agencies that participated in the flood preparedness and response appreciate everyone who heeded emergency guidance during the flood. Thank you for staying safe.  

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on August 13, 2026, outburst flooding surpassed major flood stage. Peak flooding is expected between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. today. 

Flash flood risk remains high. Officials continue to advise evacuation and to STAY AWAY from the Mendenhall River and the flood barrier system. Call the flood hotline at 907-500-0890 for questions, concerns and find the latest flood updates at www.weather.gov/ajk/suicidebasin.  

Thank you for all those that evacuated and continue to heed safety instructions.  

City and Borough of Juneau facilities along Mendenhall River, including the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, Dimond Park Field House, Dimond Park Aquatic Center, all nearby fields (Dimond Park, Melvin Park, Mendenhall River Community School), and nearby trails (Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei, Juneau International Airport’s Emergency Vehicle Access Road or Airport Dike Trail) will close tomorrow, August 12 through Thursday, August 13. Activities taking place in city facilities along the Mendenhall River during this time are cancelled.  

Find more information about flood conditions, closures, and preparedness at bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady or call the Flood Hotline at 907-500-0890. For real-time river data and alerts, visit www.weather.gov/ajk/suicideBasin. 

For more information, contact [email protected].  

August 11, 2026 – A glacial outburst has occurred at Suicide Basin. The basin is releasing and flooding is expected along Mendenhall Lake and River late Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning. 

Residents are advised to evacuate the mapped evacuation advisory area shown below and at bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady. Officials recommend residents the mapped area evacuate tomorrow (Wednesday, August 12) and stay until the flood waters recede and an “All Clear” message is communicated via CBJ Alerts and other official channels. 

An American Red Cross shelter will be available at Floyd Dryden Gymnasium (3800 Mendenhall Loop Road) this evening. Visit bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady for more on how and where to evacuate. 

The Red Cross will have limited space to shelter pets at the Floyd Dryden emergency shelter. Please read the full requirements and recommendations here. Juneau Animal Rescue (JAR) also offers emergency sheltering for pets through their Safe-Keeping Program (PDF). JAR has created resources to help pet owners prepare for emergencies and evacuation.  

Evacuation Routes: To avoid congestion and road or bridge closures, please follow the evacuation routes below described  

• Residents north of Division Street, please travel north on Riverside Drive, toward Mendenhall (Back) Loop Road and out of the inundation area. 

• Residents south of Division Street, travel south on Riverside Drive, turn left on Stephen Richards Memorial Drive, towards Mendenhall Loop Road. 

• On Rivercourt Way, travel south on Riverside Drive, toward Egan Drive 

• On the west side of the Mendenhall River, travel west on Mendenhall (Back) Loop Road toward Auke Bay (avoid Back Loop Bridge). 

• West of Brotherhood Bridge, travel west on Glacier Highway toward Auke Bay 

Do not go near the river or drive on flooded roads. The barriers provide protection, but flooding remains possible.  

If a flash flood occurs, residents in the evacuation will not have time to leave and should shelter in place.  

Approaching the river during a flood warning endangers yourself and first responders and interferes with residents evacuating. Find links to watch live footage of the river from the many cameras tracking the flood at bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady. 

If you have questions or non-emergency concerns, call the Flood Information Hotline at 907-500-0890 which is now operating 24 hours per day. If you or someone else is experiencing a life safety emergency, call 911 immediately. 

For the latest information, visit bit.ly/JuneauFloodReady or follow CBJ and Tlingit & Haida on Facebook. Sign up for emergency alerts by visiting bit.ly/CBJAlerts or texting CBJ to 38276.