This popular Alaska cruise stop is evacuating residents right now. Here's why

MarilynTravel2025-08-144910

One of Alaska's most beloved glaciers has become the source of unprecedented flooding. It released a "glacial outburst," as the wall of water is called, forcing evacuations across the state's capital city and breaking flooding records — again. For travelers who have Juneau on their Alaska bucket list (and for residents who deeply love this beautiful spot), recent events offer a stark reminder: Our planet's most spectacular destinations are most spectacularly changing. This isn't the first "outburst," though, and it's certainly not the last. Here's what's going on.

What's happening in Juneau

A massive glacial outburst is currently underway at Suicide Basin, a glacial lake connected to the famous Mendenhall Glacier. Think of it like a giant natural bathtub that fills with melting ice, rain, and snow throughout the summer. When it gets too full, the water bursts through the surrounding ice, sending a torrent downstream toward Juneau's residential areas.

The Mendenhall River has already shattered its previous record, rising more than seven feet since Tuesday and surpassing 16 feet, well above the 14-foot threshold considered major flooding. The surge is so powerful it's pulling entire trees downstream, creating hazardous conditions that have prompted officials to urge residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately.

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For the millions of cruise ship passengers and independent travelers who visit Alaska each year, the Mendenhall Glacier represents a must-see highlight. Located just 10 miles from downtown Juneau, it's easily accessible via the popular Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where tourists can walk trails, take photos of the dramatic ice formations, and learn about glacial geology. The glacier's stunning blue ice and the surrounding Tongass National Forest create picture-perfect moments that fill countless social media feeds.

This latest flooding event underscores how the very forces that created this natural wonder are now threatening the communities that depend on glacier tourism. The western edge of Juneau, where many tourism-related businesses operate, sits directly in the flood zone.

"Glacial outbursts" now happen every summer

These glacial outbursts have become an annual summer occurrence since 2011, but they're intensifying each year. The culprit? Rising global temperatures are causing Alaska's glaciers to melt at an alarming rate. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, fundamentally changing landscapes that have remained stable for centuries.

As the Mendenhall Glacier retreats and thins, more liquid water replaces solid ice in Suicide Basin. This creates larger volumes of water that eventually need somewhere to go — and that somewhere is downstream toward Juneau's homes and businesses.

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While the Mendenhall Glacier remains a spectacular destination, visitors should be aware that Alaska's changing climate is creating new unpredictabilities. Future travelers might encounter altered landscapes, modified access routes, or seasonal restrictions as communities adapt to these recurring flood risks.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's preemptive disaster declaration demonstrates how seriously officials are taking these climate-driven changes. For both locals and travelers, it's a reminder that Alaska's raw natural beauty comes with inherent risks, and that the landscapes we visit today may look dramatically different for future generations. Or even for our future selves.

Yahoo CreatorJacqueline KehoeJacqueline is a travel, nature, and science writer based in Wisconsin. Follow her work on Yahoo Creators—or find it in the wild at publications like National Geographic, Smithsonian, Travel + Leisure, and more.FollowFollow
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