Didn't really know where else to post this but figured the outdoor board would be most interested. We've had a weird snow season and had a dump of snow earlier in the year with a drastic cold spell creating a very thick hard layer that the later season snow is building on. Think of these like cake layers and the differing snow types, temperature, humidity, wind all factor into the friction between layers. Then factor that the wind drives snow into overhangs over mountain ledges creating unstable surfaces.
In town here there are multiple avalanche paths that scar the mountains, most are not threatening unless you're in the backcountry. However there's some sections near downtown that were built in an avalanche path and the avalanche hazard has reached "historic" levels. The largest of which is the Behrends Avenue Path shown below. The city puts out daily avalanche hazards and 2 days ago during a wind/snow event it was listed as a level 5 extreme for the first time. Local police and firemen went door to door precautionarily evacuating all homes shown in the map below. Fortunately nothing came down because estimates have determined it will be a historic event and go over houses and block the highway with 14ft of snow. Unfortunately that also means that the threat is still there and it can still keep building while other snow/wind/rain events have the potential no knock it down.
The city of Juneau put's out an avalanche advisory every morning and is based on the weather conditions for the day. Important to note that the advisory is for the area as a whole, not just one path. Additionally, just because a threat is lowered to a 3 doesn't indicate a hazard is safe, these things can go at any time.
Last week we housed a coworker and his wife who live in the "B zone" shown below when the threat was a level 5. Unfortunately our space was only available for 3 days as we had someone book our attached vacation rental prior to this and my coworker and his wife are now staying with other friends until things get settled. They're reluctant to go home even as predictions lower because there's always the potential that this let's loose and it engulfs their house. At this point they're almost wishing it would just go and let the chips fall where the may (assuming everyone in the area has evacuated).
Hopefully this google link works getting you to the location of the avalanche. It's easy to identify because of the scaring on the mountain bare of trees. You can see the path down to the upper level of the neighborhoods.
https://goo.gl/maps/LxCMwiHkc8WWV7wo9
This street view map is looking up at the mountain from the highway/harbor that has the potential to be engulfed. Even though all the summer vegetation is green you can easily distinguish the avalanche scar by the large area with no tree growth.
https://goo.gl/maps/4zvxU14Hy1wz2mpJ9
If you're all curious feel free to follow click the links daily to see what the forecast is. I'll be sure to update if the avalanche ever happens.
https://juneau.org/emergency/current-advisory
2011 Avalanche Study - http://media.ktoo.org/2016/07/SLF_2011_Study.pdf
Random news articles of the potential for the avalanche and evacuations of homes:
https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/27/juneau-sets-up-evacuation-center-for-residents-affected-by-extreme-avalanche-danger/
https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/26/juneau-officials-warn-of-dangerous-historic-avalanches-and-potential-evacuations-of-neighborhoods-if-conditions-worsen/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/28/avalanches-juneau-alaska-deadliest-month-us-history/6862272002/
This is a recording of a Behrends Ave avalanche in 2017. This does happen quite often but the avalanches usually let loose before they build up too big and dissipate before getting to the house. The land flattens behind the houses...somewhat. As the linked pdf report above says the 30 year and 300 year avalanche will reach the houses and/or the highway.
In town here there are multiple avalanche paths that scar the mountains, most are not threatening unless you're in the backcountry. However there's some sections near downtown that were built in an avalanche path and the avalanche hazard has reached "historic" levels. The largest of which is the Behrends Avenue Path shown below. The city puts out daily avalanche hazards and 2 days ago during a wind/snow event it was listed as a level 5 extreme for the first time. Local police and firemen went door to door precautionarily evacuating all homes shown in the map below. Fortunately nothing came down because estimates have determined it will be a historic event and go over houses and block the highway with 14ft of snow. Unfortunately that also means that the threat is still there and it can still keep building while other snow/wind/rain events have the potential no knock it down.
The city of Juneau put's out an avalanche advisory every morning and is based on the weather conditions for the day. Important to note that the advisory is for the area as a whole, not just one path. Additionally, just because a threat is lowered to a 3 doesn't indicate a hazard is safe, these things can go at any time.
Last week we housed a coworker and his wife who live in the "B zone" shown below when the threat was a level 5. Unfortunately our space was only available for 3 days as we had someone book our attached vacation rental prior to this and my coworker and his wife are now staying with other friends until things get settled. They're reluctant to go home even as predictions lower because there's always the potential that this let's loose and it engulfs their house. At this point they're almost wishing it would just go and let the chips fall where the may (assuming everyone in the area has evacuated).
Hopefully this google link works getting you to the location of the avalanche. It's easy to identify because of the scaring on the mountain bare of trees. You can see the path down to the upper level of the neighborhoods.
https://goo.gl/maps/LxCMwiHkc8WWV7wo9
This street view map is looking up at the mountain from the highway/harbor that has the potential to be engulfed. Even though all the summer vegetation is green you can easily distinguish the avalanche scar by the large area with no tree growth.
https://goo.gl/maps/4zvxU14Hy1wz2mpJ9
If you're all curious feel free to follow click the links daily to see what the forecast is. I'll be sure to update if the avalanche ever happens.
https://juneau.org/emergency/current-advisory
2011 Avalanche Study - http://media.ktoo.org/2016/07/SLF_2011_Study.pdf
Random news articles of the potential for the avalanche and evacuations of homes:
https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/27/juneau-sets-up-evacuation-center-for-residents-affected-by-extreme-avalanche-danger/
https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/26/juneau-officials-warn-of-dangerous-historic-avalanches-and-potential-evacuations-of-neighborhoods-if-conditions-worsen/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/28/avalanches-juneau-alaska-deadliest-month-us-history/6862272002/
This is a recording of a Behrends Ave avalanche in 2017. This does happen quite often but the avalanches usually let loose before they build up too big and dissipate before getting to the house. The land flattens behind the houses...somewhat. As the linked pdf report above says the 30 year and 300 year avalanche will reach the houses and/or the highway.