Every August, Sarah, a resident of Juneau, stands by her kitchen window in Juneau, staring at the Mendenhall River like it’s an enemy at her doorstep. She knows what’s coming, the water will rise, the warnings will sound, and her family will have to pack up their lives, yet again, in a matter of hours. This year feels different, though. Bigger. Meaner. The kind of flood that doesn’t just seep under doors but barges in like it owns the place. And all because of a lake she’ll never see, hiding in the ice high above her home.

The Hidden Lake That Packs a Punch

The culprit behind Sarah’s unease is a bowl-shaped depression high above the Mendenhall Glacier, known as Suicide Basin. All summer long, meltwater from the glacier and rainfall collect in this icy reservoir. Then, like an overfilled bathtub, the basin gives way, sending a surge of water roaring into the Mendenhall River and Lake.

Scientists call it a glacial lake outburst flood, or GLOF, but for Juneau residents, it’s simply the nightmare that shows up every summer. According to the National Weather Service, this year’s flood is projected to peak between 16.3 and 16.8 feet, possibly shattering last year’s record of 15.99 feet.

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Why It’s Getting Worse Every Year

What makes these floods so powerful? In one word: climate. As temperatures rise, glaciers like Mendenhall melt faster, and Suicide Basin gets bigger, storing more water than ever before. Each outburst now hits with greater force. Experts predict this dangerous cycle could continue for another 25 to 60 years, until the basin either stabilizes or drains permanently (Washington Post).

Juneau on Edge: Homes, Roads, and Lives at Risk

Sarah isn’t alone in her worry. Entire neighborhoods near the Mendenhall River have been placed under evacuation advisories, as city officials brace for a wall of water.

To fight back, Juneau has rolled out 10,000 Hesco barriers, massive, military grade boxes filled with rock and sand to create flood walls along two miles of riverbank. The state has even declared a disaster emergency, unlocking resources to protect as many as 1,000 households.

But officials warn these measures are temporary. If the water climbs higher than expected, no barrier may be enough. Long term solutions are being discussed such as controlled drainage of Suicide Basin, engineered dams, or early warning systems. But these fixes are expensive, complicated, and years from reality. For now, the people of Juneau live with a ticking clock each summer, knowing that when the basin bursts, their lives can change in hours.

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A Glacial Warning to the World

What’s happening in Juneau is more than a local disaster, its global warning. Across the planet, melting glaciers are forming unstable lakes, threatening communities downstream. The floods at Mendenhall Glacier are a chilling reminder that climate change doesn’t just melt ice it rearranges lives.

As Sarah packs her emergency kit, she wonders: how many more summers will she spend waiting by the window, watching the river rise?

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 What To Do Now

  • Stay informed: Monitor official alerts and local updates.

  • Prepare essentials: Pack an emergency kit with water, food, meds, and important documents.

  • Protect your home: Move valuables to higher ground and use sandbags where possible.

  • Plan evacuation: Know your routes, pack a go-bag, and park your car on higher ground.

  • Avoid danger: Never walk or drive through floodwaters and keep kids and pets safe indoors.

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