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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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche hazard remains at Moderate.  Small windslabs up to a foot deep in isolated areas could be triggered by a human or machine. Although unlikely, there is a small chance of triggering a larger, more destructive avalanche in thinner, weaker areas of the snowpack, especially to the North in our Continental zone

Avalanche forecasts are issued Wednesday-Sunday at 8 am. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Windslabs of varying age, thickness, and reactivity are found in all zones. Recently formed thin windslabs up to a foot deep could be triggered by a human or machine today.  With limited snow available for transport, expect softer fresh windlsabs to be small in size and limited to isolated leeward terrain features that tend to accumulate windblown snow. Older windlabs will be very hard and unlikely to be triggered today, but could provide a slick bed surface for fresher slabs to slide on. 

     

    In isolated areas, triggering a wind slab could step down to deeper layers of weak snow in the snowpack, particularly north of Thompson Pass. (see problem 2)

    (3/17/2026)

    evample of a cross-loaded gully

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    We have been in a period of low stress and inactivity with persistent weak layers for quite a while. This is becoming a low likelihood problem, but it may be possible to trigger in areas where the snowpack is thinner and weaker, especially in the northern end of our forecast area.  Weak layers buried 1-3 feet deep that are responsible for this problem have continued to be found in many areas and may produce more avalanche activity with additional snow loads or warming temperatures. In the meantime, we recommend using careful terrain management and travel techniques to avoid this hazard. Stay tuned for updates, especially as weather conditions change and become more springlike. 

    HS-N-R2-D3-O

    Natural persistent slab avalanche on Averys/SW that failed at a PWL on 2/20 and ran full path ~3800'.

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2.5–3.5

    Weak snow near the ground is increasingly common as you move North through our forecast zones, with the Continental zone being the most concerning. Although it still remains unlikely to trigger this layer, areas that have been scoured from strong northeast winds now have a shallower snowpack, making this layer closer to the surface and potentially easier for a rider to trigger.

    This is a low-likelihood but high-consequence problem most likely to be triggered in steep, rocky terrain and areas where the snowpack is thin or scoured. Triggering this layer directly is unlikely at this time, but avalanches that start in the upper snowpack could step down to the basal weak layer.  There is a high degree of uncertainty regarding the poor structure at the base of the snowpack.  

    (2/25/2026)

    Deep slab natural avalanche on The Wall / north/~5800'.  Failed sometime in mid February

    Photo: Jed Workman

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity in the last 72 hours:  None

Forecast Discussion

We continue to be plagued by unseasonably cold, dry, and windy conditions this spring.  Unfortunately, it looks like another week of the same heading into the end of March. Expect hard and highly variable snow surfaces, including thick hard windslabs, exposed rain/ melt freeze crusts, sastrugi, and other interesting wind-sculpted features in most areas. Our snowpack is in a period of low stress, but is also losing strength near the surface due to the cold, clear weather. 

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

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