A glacier in Alaska causes record flooding in Juneau

An outburst flood from Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier inundated homes in Juneau, highlighting worsening summertime flooding with few solutions in sight.

Joshua Partlow reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

• The Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska, caused severe flooding after meltwater burst through, affecting more than 100 homes.
• Glacial outburst floods have become a recurring problem, with this year’s flood being the largest recorded, surpassing previous records.
• Efforts to mitigate flooding, such as barriers and tunnels, have been discussed but remain unimplemented due to complexity and cost.

Key quote:

"There was a tremendous amount of water that came out at one time."

— Aaron Jacobs, senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service

Why this matters:

As glaciers continue to melt, extreme weather events like the floods in Juneau may become more frequent, posing significant risks to communities. Understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on glacial melt is crucial to developing effective solutions and protecting vulnerable areas.