Juneau residents warned of dangerous ‘historic avalanches’

Juneau residents warned of dangerous 'historic avalanches' | iNFOnews.ca
University of Alaska Anchorage campus and U-Med district seen from midtown Anchorage.x University of Alaska Anchorage campus and U-Med district seen from midtown Anchorage.University of Alaska Anchorage

JUNEAU, Alaska – Avalanche forecasters in Juneau have issued an “extreme” danger warning for Saturday evening with the potential for “historic avalanches” in residential areas, raising the warning to the highest scale.

City officials have recommended residents in the avalanche zone evacuate their homes, especially people living in the Behrends Avenue neighbourhood in downtown, KTOO-FM reported.

Emergency Manager Tom Mattice recommends all residents avoid avalanche paths including the Flume Trail.

“People need to make their own safety decisions,” he said. “But we feel that with the forecast for the next 24–48 hours natural avalanches are likely and of great size.”

Mattice previously said the city has recently seen avalanches of snow up to 6 feet (1.8 metres) deep throughout the region.

The city has said the Centennial Hall will be open as an emergency shelter at 8 p.m. for anyone who chooses to leave their home. Safety measures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be enforced.

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