Mendenhall River Flood Expected to Peak at 16.6 Feet Thursday Morning
The Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, is forecast to reach a peak flood level of 16.1 to 16.6 feet between 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday, August 13, 2026, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Juneau. The river is currently rising due to a glacial lake outburst flood from Suicide Basin, which began on Tuesday. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the river was at 6.87 feet, rising at a rate of 0.22 feet per hour. Major flood stage, defined as 14 feet or higher, is expected to begin around 5:45 a.m. Thursday and last until approximately 1 p.m. Evacuation advisories are in place for flood-prone areas, and emergency shelters have been opened to accommodate displaced residents.