Boletín de aludes

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
3 · Notable
Bajo el límite
3 · Notable
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 4 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

The avalanche danger is Considerable at all elevations today. It remains likely a person or machine could trigger a large avalanche above 4000ft. Natural wet loose avalanches will also be likely on slopes exposed to the sun. Cautious route finding and timing will be key to safely moving through the mountains today.

This is the last avalanche forecast of the 2025-2026 season.

Problemas de aludes

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    2–3.5

    Deep storm slabs have been building above 4000ft and have been sensitive to trigger especially when the sun hits the slope. Many large natural storm slab avalanches were observed on 4/29 throughout the road corridor. 

    Upper elevation slopes are under tremendous stress right now due to new snow totals and warm spring temperatures. Choose lower angle, simple terrain with nice runouts and avoid traveling or grouping up below steep faces as avalanches could run farther than you expect.

    Widely progating storm slab on 4/29 North Dimond.

    Photo: Paul Ramseth

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    2–3

    Yesterday the sun only came out in the afternoon into the evening heating up some south and mostly west aspects. Today as the sun comes up, the east facing and south facing slopes with new snow will be exposed to solar input for the first time since the most recent storm. Expect these slopes to produce wet loose avalanches right away as the new snow warms up for the first time.

    At middle and lower elevations clear skies and colder temperatures allowed the snowpack to cool and refreeze overnight. Check to see how substantial a refreeze occurred where you travel. Is it just the surface or did the snow below freeze as well? Step off your skis or machine and see if you break through to the crust. The snowpack up to 3000ft has become very isothermic and will likely need more than 1 night of freezing temperatures to lock up. 

    The hazard at these elevations will be lower in the morning but will rise as temperatures increase and break down the crust. If you travel up steeper slopes that refroze in the morning, those slopes may not be safe coming down later in the day.

     

    Wet Slab on 40.5 Mile 

    4/29

    Photo: Paul Ramseth

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    3–3.5

    Warming temperatures and deep storm slabs are putting weak layers deeper in our snowpack under stress. These layers have been dormant most of the season but are likely to become more active as stress from new snow and water percolates deeper into the snowpack. Storm slab and large wet loose avalanches could step down to these deeper layers. Avalanches that break this deep would be very destructive and dangerous. These layers can activate without much warning so use caution in the mountains as the snowpack transitions to more of a summer snowpack.

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity in the last 72 hours:  

North Dimond 6500ft N aspect Natural D3 storm slab

Goodwills 5200ft N aspect Natural Sluff triggered D2 storm slab

Cracked Ice ridgeline N aspect D2.5 Natural storm slab

40.5 Mile W aspect Natural D2.5 Wet Slab

Many wet loose avalanches on west aspects

Forecast Discussion: 

This is the last forecast we will be issuing this season. While the forecasts will be stopping, the avalanches are just getting going! We are just starting to see larger natural avalanches occur as the snowpack heats up and water percolates deeper into the snowpack. We had an exceptionally unique season with many weak layers deep in our snowpack. Those layers are still there and becoming more of a concern by the day. Another storm is forecasted for this weekend bringing rain and heavy snow at upper elevations.

Snow does not like rapid change. Late spring is a dynamic time with large temperature swings, potential for big storms and warm weather. These factors can act as a shock to the snowpack and can trigger  large avalanche cycles. Take all these factors into consideration as you go out into the mountains, and have a safe spring and summer!

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

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