Avalanche Hazard Update
ELEVATED RISK – BE PREPARED
UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026, 12:00 PM
BOTTOM LINE: The evacuation advisory has been lifted for all slide paths, including the Behrends pathway. Risk from avalanche hazard remains elevated and future evacuation advisories are possible. CBJ is actively monitoring and assessing avalanche risk for all other known slide paths and will provide updates as conditions continue to change.
Despite heavy rain, high winds, and warm temperatures at high elevations, no avalanche activity was reported overnight. Utilizing AKDOT&PF drones, forecasters were able to conduct a visual inspection of the Behrends path this morning to better assess the snowpack and current avalanche conditions. The fact that upper start zones were saturated with rain last night and did not release, combined with the reduced snow levels at lower elevation, has brought the risk back to a level acceptable to lift the evacuation advisory for now. Residents are reminded to stay alert and be prepared to act if conditions change.
AKDOT&PF opened the Thane Road this morning.
Current Snowpack Discussion:
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.
John Bressette, CBJ Avalanche Advisor
Previous Post, 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.
Previous Post, 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.
Posted January 10 (6:50PM): With reduced precipitation today avalanche activity was limited, but at least one observed avalanche deposited debris close to Behrends Avenue. With elevated freezing levels and heavy rain forecasted for tonight, the hazard will increase again and the potential for large to very large avalanches remains. The upper elevation start zones of the Mt. Juneau paths have yet to release, leaving lots of snow hanging in the balance. Temperatures from within the snowpack show that it is still cold farther down in the snowpack indicating that rain/melt water has not percolated down into some of the deeper weak layers. As water from rainfall weights this snow down and works its way through the snowpack it will test the strength of weak layers and lead to potential avalanches.
Public safety is CBJ’s top priority. The evacuation advisory remains in effect and will be reevaluated in the morning after tonight’s heavy rainfall.
Posted January 10 (7:00AM): Hazard remains elevated today (January 10) with continued rain, rising freezing levels, and moderate Southeast winds. The evacuation advisory is still in effect. A brief lull in the weather last night somewhat limited avalanche activity but is expected to ramp back up as rain continues today and freezing levels rise. As daylight approaches we will closely monitor avalanche activity and assess what has slid and what still has the potential to slide and provide updates as available. Thank you for your patience as we continue to evaluate this event while keeping public safety in mind.
___
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.