CBJ Avalanche Advisory and Community Recovery Status Update

The City & Borough of Juneau (CBJ) is providing an operational and situational update regarding avalanche risk and community recovery efforts following the 2025-2026 Juneau Winter Storm. The following is an overview of current conditions, recent response actions, and what residents can expect moving forward.

Avalanche Evacuation Advisory Update - Behrends Path Evacuation Advisory Remains

Due to very high avalanche risk, CBJ issued an avalanche evacuation advisory on Friday, January 9, for all known slide paths. This decision was made with life safety as the highest priority. CBJ immediately opened an emergency shelter at Centennial Hall, which has served 45 individuals and approximately a dozen pets over the past two nights.

Working closely with Alaska DOT&PF and avalanche professionals, CBJ continues to monitor conditions across all known slide paths and has invested in additional monitoring and detection tools to improve situational awareness.

Changes to Evacuation Advisory

• Avalanche hazard remains elevated across all areas.
• The evacuation advisory remains in effect for the Behrends slide path. Residents are advised to stay out of the Behrends pathway and to continue avoiding travel and recreation in the Flume Trail area. Capital Transit will not be making stops between between the Federal Building and Bartlett Hospital until the evacuation advisory for this area is lifted.
• The evacuation advisory has been lifted for all other known slide paths. Slide paths outside of the Behrends area have experienced enough natural avalanche activity that forecasters no longer consider them an imminent threat.

Centennial Hall will remain open as an emergency shelter while the evacuation advisory for the Behrends pathway remains in effect. Additional closures or evacuation advisories may be issued as more wet and windy weather is in the forecast.

Avalanche Conditions Outlook

CBJ Avalanche Advisor John Bressette emphasized that current conditions remain unpredictable.

"This winter's snowpack and weather patterns are unusual for this area," Bressette said. "While some monitored paths outside of Behrends show reduced hazard, the Behrends slide path continues to present significant risk."

Bressette cautioned that the National Weather Service is forecasting rising freezing levels above 3,000 feet later this week, combined with 2-3 inches of rain-conditions that could trigger larger avalanches at higher elevations.

Schools and Facilities Update

CBJ structural engineers and the City Architect have worked continuously for more than a week, prioritizing schools and critical infrastructure. Hundreds of CBJ staff, contractors, and emergency response workers removed over 3 million pounds of snow from CBJ facilities where roof loads approached design capacity. All Juneau School District schools have been cleared for occupancy.

All CBJ facilities have also been inspected and approved for occupancy. All pools, libraries, and recreation facilities will reopen, and CBJ looks forward to welcoming residents back to these community spaces. CBJ will continue to monitor public facilities for impacts from the storm.

Infrastructure and Life Safety Efforts

Roads and Storm Drains

Rain on top of deep snow has resulted in significant roadway water accumulation, especially where storm drains remain buried. CBJ Streets crews continue working to locate and clear drains to reduce flooding hazards.

Fire Hydrants

The Borough has approximately 1,300 fire hydrants, and ensuring access to them is a critical life safety priority. Clearing hydrants requires heavy equipment to break up snow berms, followed by manual shoveling.

CBJ staff and contractors will be working tomorrow, January 12, to clear remaining hydrants. CBJ thanks residents who have worked to keep hydrants near their homes accessible during this these record-breaking snow conditions.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant, avoid hazardous areas, and sign up for CBJ Alerts at bit.ly/CBJalerts.

For questions and more information, please call CBJ Emergency Programs department at (907) 586-0371.