The City and Borough of Juneau is enhancing its avalanche alerts in response to recent heavy snowfall. A winter storm has brought record snowfall, prompting officials to issue new guidelines for residents in the downtown avalanche zone.
Record Snowfall in Juneau
Over the past four days, Juneau experienced approximately four feet of snow. This recent storm led to significant snowfall statistics for December. More than 80 inches of snow have been recorded at Juneau International Airport, marking it as the city’s second snowiest month ever.
According to Nicole Ferrin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the snow depth at the airport reached 50 inches, the highest since records began. The previous high was 41 inches, set in February 1949. February 1965 remains the snowiest month ever, with 86.3 inches.
New Avalanche Alert System
In light of the current avalanche risks, Juneau has revamped its communication strategy. The city launched a new avalanche information webpage and changed the way avalanche danger is expressed. Instead of the previous five-point scale, a “ready, set, go” system is now in place. This system aims to provide clearer guidance for urban residents.
- Ready: Stay informed about weather conditions during winter storms.
- Set: Prepare to evacuate when an elevated avalanche risk is reported.
- Go: Evacuate immediately upon receiving an evacuation notice.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy, the emergency programs manager, emphasizes that the previous scale did not effectively convey risks to city residents. The new approach focuses on the potential impact on life, safety, and infrastructure.
Ongoing Avalanche Risks and Safety Measures
The Alaska Department of Transportation reported the closure of Thane Road due to avalanche activity. Helicopters will be deployed to manage the avalanche threat, including controlled detonations scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m.
Residents are encouraged to opt into emergency alerts via cell phone notifications, as only about 10% of the population is currently signed up. O’Shaughnessy notes that rapid communication via text is crucial for ensuring community safety.
While city staff no longer conduct field evaluations for avalanche forecasts, they are consulting data provided by the Alaska Department of Transportation and the Coastal Alaska Avalanche Center. Although the National Weather Service’s storm warning ended, the danger from avalanches persists.
