All but one school reopening, flood advisory on Wednesday; moderate to heavy rain forecast Friday

Impacts of recent storms continue as warming temperatures create snow load and meltwater concerns; atmospheric river expected to arrive by late Thursday night

Meltwater flows into a storm drain partially blocked by snow in downtown Juneau on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Many schools, government offices and businesses in Juneau may finally reopen as normal on Wednesday. But the situation will still be far from normal for plenty of places throughout town struggling with the combination of massive snowfall and warming temperatures creating weight load and flooding risks.

All Juneau School District schools except Sít' Eetí Shaanáx Glacier Valley Elementary School are scheduled to be open Wednesday, following closures due to snow on Monday and Tuesday, according to a message sent to parents and employees Tuesday night by JSD Chief of Staff Kristin Bartlett.

"Sít' Eetí Shaanáx Glacier Valley is expected to open on Thursday, January 8, because it is currently having its roof shoveled," she wrote. "For safety reasons, the school will be closed to student and staff attendance while the roof is being cleared due to falling snow and temporarily blocked exits. Staff members should work from an alternate location tomorrow."

Snowloads on roofs have been a citywide concern since record snowfall — totalling more than six feet in some areas — fell during the final days of December. More than a foot of additional snow fell Sunday and Monday, with warming temperatures on Tuesday producing rain in some areas that caused flooded streets and roof damage.

"CBJ and JSD crews spent the day measuring the snow on roofs," Bartlett wrote. "No school is currently above design load capacity based on the measurements taken."

The City and Borough of Juneau brought in a 25-person crew to assist with snow removal from municipal facilities, including schools, according to Bartlett. The crew began clearing the first school roof at Glacier Valley on Tuesday, according to the email.

Notable incidents involving snowloads Tuesday included the roof of the unoccupied Bill Ray Center downtown collapsing, according to KTOO, and Fred Meyer hastily evacuating its store during the evening due to concerns about a collapse.

The National Weather Service Juneau also issued a flood advisory in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday for the city.

"The recent warmup and rain have led to excessive melting of area snowpack," a weather service update noted. "Flooding and ponding of water has been reported along many roads and highways Tuesday evening across Juneau and Douglas. Overflowing poor and frozen over drainage areas are exacerbating the ponding of water and flooding."

Moderate to heavy rain is forecast throughout Southeast Alaska beginning Thursday night, according to a separate update by the weather service.

"This system will (bring) rounds of moderate to heavy rain for communities along and north of the Icy Strait corridor through the weekend," the update for the northern part of the Panhandle noted. "Current forecast rainfall amounts are around 1 to 2 inches, with locally higher amounts approaching 3 inches at higher terrain."

"Preparations should begin for an expected rain on snow event going into the weekend," the update added.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.