Record Alaska Snow Buries Juneau, Sinks Boats
A man clears snow from the sidewalk in downtown Juneau, Alaska, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Juneau, Alaska—In Juneau’s harbors, the winter snow hasn’t just piled up—it’s pulled boats under. The state capital recorded nearly seven feet of snow in December, its heaviest such month in more than 80 years, and the weight is causing serious damage to both land and sea, the Washington Post reports.
Harbormaster Matthew Creswell says eight boats have sunk across the city’s four harbors in recent days, while about three dozen others were narrowly saved as crews worked to shovel decks and pump out water. Some vessels disappeared almost completely; in one case, only a mast remained visible above the icy water.
On land, the heavy, wet snow has collapsed roofs and strained a city built for winter, but not for this extreme accumulation so quickly. A karate dojo, a gas station awning, and the roof of a downtown commercial building have all caved under the weight. Residents have been rushing to clear rooftops themselves, often risking injury. City Manager Katie Koester says Juneau has even brought in extra crews to dig out government buildings and secured a state waiver allowing plowed snow to be dumped into the Gastineau Channel because there’s no room elsewhere. Officials are also asking residents to uncover buried fire hydrants using GPS coordinates posted online.
The storm was fueled by an atmospheric river colliding with a lingering pocket of Arctic air, creating days of snow with periods of freezing rain, the National Weather Service reports. While Alaska’s snow season is shrinking overall, climate experts note that warmer air can hold more moisture, leading to fewer but more intense snowstorms—especially in Southeast Alaska. Anchorage, for example, set a daily snowfall record Monday with more than nine inches, causing dozens of car crashes.
In Juneau, attention is now shifting from sheer depth to what happens when the snow gets wetter. Rain is in the forecast, prompting avalanche warnings for neighborhoods below Mount Juneau and advisories for residents to keep emergency go-bags ready. Koester warns that melting snow and rain could further stress already burdened roofs, overwhelm storm drains clogged with ice, and add more weight to boats still afloat. The Weather Channel reports that 40 inches of snow remain on the ground, and the city is racing to clear it before the rain arrives. A local emergency has been declared, Alaska’s News Source reports.
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