Suicide Basin is a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier above Juneau, Alaska. Since 2011, Suicide Basin has released glacier lake outburst floods that cause inundation along Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River multiple times each year with a record major flood event in the summer of 2023.

If you missed the 6/3 townhall meeting with local experts explaining improvements to the monitoring and forecasting programs for the 2024 season, Click here to view the recording.

Current Status: 6/14/2024: The USGS has installed some of the new equipment (temperature, precipitation, laser water level) and a second camera. The laser water level data is shown below and other data access is being worked on at this time, check back in the next few weeks to see the new data. The new equipment will provide increased situational awareness.  

Using the latest imagery, the water level in the basin is approximately 100ft lower than at the same time in 2023. Continue to check back for updates on basin status. Images from the entire 2024 season can be viewed here.

Here is the NWS summary report from the major flooding event from the Suicide Basin glacier lake outburst flood in August 2023.

Additional Information available:

• Mendenhall River Inundation Maps (Follow the link, then scroll down to Gauge Location, select Activate MNDA2 FIM Gauge)
• Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC) Story Map "Hidden Water: The Suicide Basin Outburst Flood" 
• The Suicide Basin glacier outburst flood: 2023 and beyond (Recording of the Oct 27 2023 Evening at Egan)
• 2023 Season Time-Lapse Animations (Image and Vector)
• 2022 Season Time-Lapse Animations (Image and Vector)

Latest Basin Image - Scales

Most recent image from the basin, updated at daily to sub-daily intervals (see time-stamp bottom right). The camera is placed at the basin entrance and faces northeast, into the basin. Click on image to enlarge and read basin levels.

Full Season Viewer

Recent Timelapse (Last 15 Images)

Latest Basin Image - Vectors

Most recent image from the basin (same as on the left) with vectors indicating ice motion direction and magnitude. Click on image to enlarge.

Full Season Viewer

Recent Timelapse (Last 15 images)

Mendenhall Lake Stage Level

Graph showing the current (blue) and predicted (purple) stage level at Mendenhall Lake. Stage levels are annotated on the left y-axis on the graph. The graph also shows the Mendenhall River discharge (right y-axis), which is derived from the Mendenhall Lake stage level via rating curve.

Suicide Basin Level (Pool Height)

Graph showing the current (blue) pool height of Suicide Basin. These values come primarily from a pressure transducer, secondarily from a laser detection system, and can be estimated using the camera imagery if needed. USGS equipment installation in progress.  As of 6/13, values are from the laser detection system.

Alternate Basin Image

Most recent image from the basin with different view, updated at daily to sub-daily intervals. Click on image to enlarge. Coming Soon - awaiting installation of the second camera.

Full Season Viewer

Recent Timelapse (Last 15 Images)

Suicide Basin Scenario Forecast Graphic

Graph showing the official (worst case) forecast (gray), most likely forecast range (purple shading), and no-release forecast (blue). The most likely range is based on percent volume released in past events since 2016. Ten of the past 14 events have released 20-60% of the volume stored in the basin.

This image will be issued once with current values when a release starts. It will not be updated during the event.