Shallow Landslides Align With Atmospheric Rivers in Coastal Steeplands

Abstract Rapid, shallow landslides in coastal mountains are triggered by extreme precipitation, shaping topography and impacting human settlements. Using an inventory of >700 landslides mapped from satellite imagery (2009–2024) and an atmospheric river database (1981–2019), this study documents linkages between climatic drivers and the topographic context of landslides on Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska. We observe a strong correlation between landslide occurrence and extreme atmospheric rivers during the autumn months. Notably, landslide initiation zones exhibit a strong directional bias toward the southwest‐to‐southeast, coinciding with the trajectory of landfalling extreme atmospheric rivers. Our frequency ratio analysis demonstrates that landslides are overrepresented on the windward aspect of steep (>35°) slopes at mid‐slope positions which enables us to map relative landslide susceptibility. Potential mechanisms include orographic forcing, wind‐driven precipitation, and forest canopy disturbance. These findings provide a framework for quantifying how slide‐prone landscapes co‐evolve with preferential climate forcing to inform hazard assessment.