Juneau, Alaska – Residents across southeastern Alaska, western British Columbia, and parts of western Washington are being urged to remain alert as repeated rounds of heavy rain are expected into early next week, significantly increasing the risk of flooding, avalanches, and landslides. Meteorologists say a long-duration atmospheric river event will funnel deep Pacific moisture into the region, with the most severe impacts expected north of Seattle, according to AccuWeather.
Atmospheric River to Bring Widespread Heavy Rain
Some of the heaviest rainfall is forecast to hit the Olympic Peninsula and the far northern Cascades, while lighter rain is expected around Seattle. However, the greatest concern lies in western British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, where rainfall totals are expected to be much higher.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said a wide swath of coastal British Columbia could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain through Tuesday as the atmospheric river stalls over the region.
Juneau Faces Exceptional Flood and Avalanche Threat
In southeastern Alaska, the city of Juneau is expected to see 4 to 6 inches of rain by the middle of the week.
“In Juneau, Alaska, 4-6 inches of rain can fall into the middle of the week,” said Dan Pydynowski, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist.
To put that amount into perspective, Juneau typically receives around 6 inches of precipitation during the entire month of January. Compounding the risk, the city has already recorded an extraordinary 94.8 inches of snow between Dec. 1 and Jan. 10—nearly four times the historical average of 24.4 inches for that same period.
Snowmelt Expected to Worsen Impacts
Forecasters warn that rising temperatures will intensify the threat. As temperatures climb into the 40s Fahrenheit, rapid snowmelt is expected to combine with heavy rainfall, creating dangerous runoff conditions.
“The combination of this heavy rainfall and temperatures climbing into the 40s F will cause snow to melt, which can create a dangerous situation,” Pydynowski said. “There will be the risk for flooding and avalanches, especially in the eastern end of the city along the mountains and hillsides that Juneau banks up against.”
Snow levels are expected to remain relatively high throughout the event, further increasing the risk of avalanches, debris flows, and landslides, particularly in mountainous and steep terrain.
Dry Break Expected Later in the Week
After days of stormy weather, forecasters say a shift in the pattern could finally bring some relief.
“High pressure will nose its way from the eastern Pacific and over the interior West at times throughout the week and into the third week of January,” said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert.
This change should give much of the West Coast a break from heavy rain, flooding, and landslide threats. During this calmer stretch, temperatures are expected to run 5 to 10 degrees above historical averages, offering a more stable—but still mild—weather pattern across the region.
