Juneau Preparing for Seasonal Glacier Flooding: What Alaska Cruise Passengers Should Know

If you're sailing to Alaska in the next few weeks, you may be hearing about the potential for flooding near Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Don't panic.

While local officials are preparing for another seasonal glacial outburst flood, the good news is that most cruise passengers are unlikely to see major disruptions to their visit.

Suicide Basin is a glacial lake located near Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau.

Each summer, meltwater fills the basin until the pressure becomes great enough to force water underneath the glacier. When that happens, billions of gallons of water can be released in a relatively short period of time, sending the Mendenhall River rising quickly through parts of the Mendenhall Valley.

This natural event is known as a glacial lake outburst flood, and it has become an annual concern for residents living near the river. Officials expect this year's basin to reach capacity sometime between August 8 and August 12, although the exact timing depends on weather conditions such as rainfall and warm temperatures.

For people who live near the Mendenhall River, this isn't a new threat.

After several years of damaging floods, local, state, and federal agencies have been working together to improve forecasting, monitoring, and emergency response. Residents in flood-prone neighborhoods are being encouraged to review evacuation plans and stay informed through Juneau's Glacial Flood Dashboard and emergency alerts.

Although every flood is different, officials are closely monitoring water levels in Suicide Basin throughout the summer and will issue warnings if conditions become dangerous.

Will It Affect Alaska Cruises? For most cruise passengers, probably not.

Cruise ships dock in downtown Juneau, several miles from the areas most susceptible to flooding along the Mendenhall River.

However, some shore excursions could be affected if floodwaters impact roads, parking areas, or trails near Mendenhall Glacier. Tour operators may adjust schedules, reroute buses, or, in some cases, cancel excursions if conditions become unsafe.

Cruise lines routinely work with local tour providers and officials to make changes when necessary, so guests booked on affected excursions would be notified if adjustments are needed.

At this point, there is no reason for cruise passengers to change their travel plans solely because of the expected flooding. The seasonal outburst flood is a well-known event in Juneau, and local officials monitor it closely each year. While the flooding can have a significant impact on nearby neighborhoods, it does not typically affect the cruise port itself.

If your itinerary includes Juneau during the expected flooding period, it's simply a good idea to remain flexible with any excursions near Mendenhall Glacier and keep an eye on updates from your cruise line.

As Alaska cruise season continues, we'll keep an eye on conditions in Juneau and provide updates if flooding leads to any significant impacts for cruise passengers.

If you're cruising to Alaska in the coming weeks, are you planning to visit Mendenhall Glacier, or do you have another excursion booked in Juneau? Let us know in the comments below.

We are Tim & Lori and are known as "The Cruising Together Couple"  

Follow us on our Facebook page: Cruising Together Couple

Check out our Facebook group dedicated to Carnival Cruising at: Carnival VIFP - Very Important Fun Page

Check out our Facebook group dedicated to Royal Caribbean at : Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Fan Group

Check out our YouTube channel with new releases every FRIDAY!  CLICK HERE

Help support us by checking out our cruise product page on our website CLICK HERE