Update: Some conditions improving, but warnings about icy roads, avalanches and other major risks remain

Between 0.5-1" of rain forecast Saturday after record 1.58" Friday; city facilities and many businesses remain closed; 60 people clearing hospital roof due to weight load concerns

A Capital Transit bus passes a state employee as he clears a storm drain near the State Office Building parking garage on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This story will be updated with additional developments as they occur.

Some hazards involving rain, weighloads on roofs and roads are improving, but serious risks, including avalanches, icy roads and other hazards remain, according to officials from multiple agencies providing updates at a press conference on Saturday morning.

Among the current concerns is the roof at Bartlett Regional Hospital, which 60 people are working to clear with patient areas as the priority, Joe Wanner, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said during the briefing.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said there have been no roof collapses of city facilities, but some structural damage has occurred. He said there are mixed results from load assessments, with some lower and some higher than Friday.

Some road conditions are improving, but widespread reports of icy and flooded surfaces are ongoing, according to state transportation and local fire department officials speaking during the briefing.

Libraries, recreation and other city facilities will remain closed this weekend after a record 1.58 inches of rain Friday triggered avalanches, evacuation advisories affecting hundreds of residents, and widespread flooding in Juneau.

Fred Meyer and the Nugget Mall are among the major businesses in Juneau that remain closed on Saturday.

Rain is expected to continue Saturday, but less intensely with up to an inch forecast, according to the National Weather Service Juneau. A flood advisory is in effect until 9 p.m.

"Rain rates have decreased overnight," a forecast issued at 1:42 a.m. Saturday notes. "However, showers will continue through Saturday as an atmospheric river with multiple surges of moisture is expected to continue through the weekend. Heavy rain is rapidly melting the recently fallen snow in previously cleared areas."

An evacuation advisory for all avalanche path areas issued Friday morning by the City and Borough of Juneau remains in effect, and may continue for several days. The U.S. Coast Guard has stated it will provide transport for Thane residents who are cut off from the only road to the rest of Juneau if it becomes necessary.

Among the most active avalanche areas are the slopes above Thane Road, which was closed at noon Friday, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

"We have detected numerous large avalanches since the road closure," a post on DOT’s Facebook page at about 6 p.m. notes. One avalanche just before 3:15 p.m. 'stopped close to the highway.'"

"We expect avalanche activity to continue through the night and into the weekend," the post adds.

A map shows avalanches detected from infrasound along Thane Road as of mid-afternoon on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Numerous other small avalanches and flooded streets were reported throughout the day as several feet of snow that fell in recent weeks turned to meltwater, slush and ice by warmer temperatures and rain from an atmospheric river that arrived Thursday night.

"CBJ encourages all residents to stay off the roads for their safety and the safety of others, and to allow snow removal and street maintenance teams to do their work as safely and efficiently as possible," a notice posted at CBJ’s Facebook page at 8:45 p.m. Friday states. "Please limit travel in known avalanche exposure areas."

The city is also reminding residents to check an online street maintenance schedule, watch for yellow advisory signs on streets and move their vehicles if necessary to avoid having them towed.

The city’s three libraries, Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and recreation facilities such as the Dimond Park Field House and Zach Gordon Youth Center are closed. The Juneau Recycling Center and Household Hazardous Waste are also closed this weekend. The Shéiyi X̱aat Hit Youth Shelter remains open.

Capital Transit, in addition to operating winter routes with fewer stops, is also bypassing Glacier Highway between the Federal Building and Bartlett Regional Hospital due to the avalanche advisory.

Rain is forecast daily through next Friday, with the exception of Wednesday and Thursday when colder temperatures may bring a combination of rain and snow, according to the weather service.

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