Lawinenlagebericht

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 months ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

The avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE.  Additional snowfall will continue to add to the depth of already sensitive storm slabs.  Human and machine triggerred avalanche are likely up to 4 feet deep.  Natural avalanches are possible.

Avalanche forecasts are issued Wednesday-Sunday at 8 am.   

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Dangerous avalanche conditions exist.  Human triggered avalanches are likely and could be large enough to injure, bury or kill a person.  Despite warm temperatures in town, deep dry snow remained on Thompson Pass yesterday and was being actively redistributed by moderate to strong southerly winds. On 4/21, low-density drifts of storm snow up to 3 feet deep were reactive to ski cuts and on test slopes at elevations as low as 2500'. It is likely that deeper drifts, 4 feet or more, exist near ridgelines on north-facing terrain.

    Another wave of storms is expected to begin today, adding weight to an already reactive upper snowpack. Rising temperatures may also create denser snow over weaker low-density snow, increasing the likelihood of top-heavy storm slabs. Conservative terrain choices are strongly recommended today.

    (4/21/2026)

    signs of instability on Cracked Ice in deep wind drift

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    2–3

    Persistent Slab: Triggering a persistent slab avalanche is becoming increasingly likely. Multiple weak layers remain a concern within the snowpack. Above 3000', these layers are being progressively loaded by new snow and are becoming more reactive as snowfall continues to accumulate.

    Additional snowfall today and through the rest of the week will continue to stress these weak layers. Dangerous avalanche conditions are evolving. Storm slab avalanches are likely, and continued snowfall may also increase the likelihood of triggering deeper weak layers in the snowpack.

    Deep Persistent Slab: Buried weak snow near the ground has remained unreactive for quite some time. Triggering a layer this deep is currently unlikely, but as spring thaw progresses this layer may become stressed enough to produce large avalanches. Keep this layer on your radar as conditions continue to change.

    (4/21/2026)

    Persistent slab avalanche triggered by a ski touring party

    Photo: Unknown

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2

    Cloud cover is expected to keep wet loose avalanche problems confined to elevations below 3000'. Overnight temperatures have remained near or above freezing at these lower elevations, especially in the Maritime zone. The snowpack is isothermal here, particularly on solar aspects, and human-triggered wet loose avalanches are likely in steep terrain.

    Avoid traveling on or below steep low-elevation slopes where more than 6 inches of wet snow exists at the surface.

    (4/18/2026)

    Large Wet loose running down onto Loveland Glacier from Tones Temple ridge. 

    Photo: Joshua McDonald

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity in the last 72 hours:  

4/21-Persistent slab avalanche triggered in an apron of the Dimond stairway ramps. observation here

-Widely propagating natural avalanche on the face of Snow Dome

(4/21/2026)

R5 natural avalanche on Snow Dome

Photo: Gareth Brown

4/18-D3 snowmachine triggered avalanche on the south side of Loveland Basin.  Click this link for the observation

-D2 skier triggered avalanche on Cracked Ice/ NW/5800'/ ~10" deep, 100' wide

-Numerous large wet loose avalanches

Forecast Discussion: 

Our weak snowpack is being loaded in a real way for the first time since mid January.  This is creating a mutitude of avalanche problems including: storm slab, wind slab, persistent slab, and wet loose.  All of these avalanche problems are active and are forecasted to become more sensitive today through Friday.  A large natrural avalanche cycle is expected to occur beginning tomorrow into Friday as significant precipitation is expected to begin sometime late tonight.

Please consider leaving an observation with storm totals and/or any signs of instability or avalanche activity that you encounter to help us paint a clearer picture of this complex and unusual snowpack. 

For more information regarding our snowpack, see our Season summary, Observations, and avalanche activity sections.  

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