Avalanche forecast

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Today the avalanche hazard will start low and rise to moderate as snow softens on sunny aspects and low-elevation slopes. There will be an increasing chance of human-triggered and natural wet loose avalanches throughout the day. Additionally, isolated pockets of small windslabs may be encountered in high elevations on a variety of aspects. Use safe travel protocols and pay attention to the consistency of the snow to avoid these hazards. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Wet loose avalanches will be the primary concern today. Mild temperatures overnight followed by warm sunny weather today will continue to weaken the upper snowpack throughout the day. If warm temperatures start to penetrate deeper into the snowpack we will see the potential for larger avalanches. 

    A low hazard this morning will quickly rise to moderate on Easterly slopes that receive the morning sun. Warming of the snow will be accelerated in rocky areas that absorb more heat. As the day continues the danger will spread to other aspects moving from East to West in a clockwise direction around the compass with NW aspects warming in the afternoon/evening. Pay attention to your aspects and timing today. A stable slope you cross in the morning may become hazardous in the afternoon. 

    Dense wet slides move slowly but can carry a large amount of mass and inertia. Slides that start small often entrain a significant amount of wet snow on their way downhill. A small wet slide can easily push you off your feet or wash you over any exposure below. Travel on warm sunny slopes over 35 degrees should be done with caution today. If your boot begins to penetrate wet snow more than a few inches there is likely a wet loose avalanche hazard on your slope. 

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    There have been reports of windslab formation on isolated higher peaks over the last few days. Crusts that have formed on sunny slopes have limited the amount of snow available for transport in most areas. Colder higher peaks that are still holding dry snow will be the most likely place to find small pockets of windslab less than a foot deep. We expect this problem to be spotty in distribution and becoming stubborn to triggers but it is still something to keep an eye on. A small windslab could be hazardous if triggered over consequential terrain such as a terrain trap or cliff. 

Avalanche Discussion

RECENT AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:  

Last 48 hours: One D1 human-triggered windslab was reported on Little Matterhorn. Natural cornice fall at Rock Bluffs (near hairpin). buried 3/4 of the highway with a substantial amount of debris.

DISCUSSION:

It has been a week since our last significant snowfall. During this period we have enjoyed mild conditions and increasing stability (except for wet loose hazards).  An impressive amount of mountain travelers have covered a vast area within and beyond our forecast zones. Considering the amount of users out there we have seen a relatively small amount of avalanche activity.  

The hazards that do exist today should be easily identifiable for mountain travelers. Hazard mitigation will focus on the amount of heating on a slope at low to mid-elevations and solar aspects. In higher, colder terrain you are encouraged to keep an eye out for small windslabs that exist in isolated areas where there is snow available for transport.

Continued increasing temperatures will potentially lead to a significant shed cycle on warm southerly aspects in the near future. Keep an eye on this situation as spring progresses. Avoiding travel on or below sunny slopes will become more important as the season comes to an end. 

Additional Concerns:

This is the time of year when cornices begin to fail.  You can significantly reduce your overall hazard exposure this time of year by avoiding traveling on top of or under cornices.

Recent glide crack releases have been observed on the dsouthern aspects of Town Mountain, Airport Chutes, and Camecia Creek lately.  Glide cracks exist in isolated areas and will be a hazard throughout the season until they fail.  Avoid exposure to glide cracks.

 

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