Danger For Behrends Residents As Avalanche Threatens Homes
Following a holiday weekend snowfall exceeding 30 inches, avalanche risk in Juneau has escalated. A Monday evening avalanche obstructed Thane Road, while a Tuesday morning slide lightly covered homes in the Behrends area, though no damage was reported.
Post-storm, Tuesday brought clear skies and low temperatures, expected to continue through the week.
Tom Mattice, Juneau’s emergency programs manager, mentioned that the weekend’s snowfall needs a few days to integrate with the existing snow layer. Meanwhile, strong winds over the mountain ridges could provoke additional avalanches.
“The recent Behrends slide was a minor segment of a larger avalanche path,” Mattice explained. “While there’s still risk, the snow depth isn’t likely to impact homes.”
He suggested that smaller slides, like the one at Behrends, might recur, reducing overall avalanche risk.
“More snow equates to further reach and increased destructive force,” Mattice stated. “Seeing some snow release from the hillside eases some concerns.” Despite the recent activity, little trace of Tuesday morning’s avalanche was visible on Behrends Avenue, following the substantial snowfall that elevated Juneau’s urban avalanche warning to “high.”
As of Tuesday morning, Juneau’s urban avalanche advisory remained at “high.” The “extreme” level, indicative of potential damage to houses, had not been reached.
However, Mattice advised avoiding areas prone to avalanches, specifically the Flume Trail, Gold Creek Basin, and Perseverance Basin.
Following the clearance of two natural avalanches that occurred on Monday evening, Thane Road reopened on Tuesday afternoon. These avalanches brought down trees and nearly two feet of snow, blocking the road. The Alaska Department of Transportation urges motorists to remain vigilant and not stop while traversing the avalanche zone.
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