Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Another light storm is passing through today bringing light rain and snow above 1,300'. There is a chance a person could trigger a large avalanche up to 2' deep above 2,500' especially in places that receive more snow and wind today. Wet avalanches could be a concern, especially if solar facing slopes warm up more than expected. If you find yourself stepping up to your shin in wet snow it means conditions are becoming dangerous. Choose low angle slopes with nothing steep above to avoid all of these problems.

FRIDAY AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: Another weak system is expected on Friday, and by this time Portage and Placer may have received 1" of water or more. This will increase the avalanche danger in this area especially. The most dangerous problem will be the chance a person could trigger a large avalanche on weak snow buried 2' deep or more. Wet snow avalanches will also be a concern, especially if the crust on solar facing slopes breaks down. If you sink up to your shin in wet snow it means conditions are dangerous. We will issue our next avalanche forecast on Saturday.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Forecast Operations: Beginning this week, we will be transitioning to our late season forecasting schedule, issuing forecasts Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Our last forecast will be Thursday, April 30th followed by our annual "Spring Tips" on May 1st. 

Hiking on trails below avalanche paths this time of year is dangerous and not recommended.  Avalanches may release into valley bottoms, covering up summer hiking trails. This includes the Byron Glacier Trail and the Trail of Blue Ice in Portage Valley and the Crow Pass Trail in Girdwood Valley. Remember that as long as there are snowy mountains above you, avalanches can come down to snow-free hiking trails.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: It has been 7 days since there has been a report of a large avalanche in this zone. Last Thursday, there were reports of several avalanches, the largest of which occurred in Todd's Bowl. The other 2 occurred on Magnum and Taylor Pass.

    Despite a week having gone by without reports of avalanches, we are still concerned that a person could trigger a large avalanche on weak snow buried up to 2' deep. New snow and wind today will add to the chances of this occurring. This problem is very difficult to assess because we probably won't get any feedback like a whumpf or a crack. Digging a snowpit doesn't help much because test results are often misleading with this type of problem and can't be trusted to make a decision. 

    The way to reduce your chances of getting injured or buried is to choose slopes that fan out at the bottom with no rocks or trees in the path. The most likely trigger spots are close to rocks and it's possible the 3rd, 4th, or 10th person on the slope could trigger the avalanche.

    Wind slab: Southeast ridgetop winds are just high enough to build some small fresh wind slabs. These can be found below ridgelines, on steep rolls, and in cross-loaded gullies. A shooting crack is a red flag that means an avalanche could occur.

    (4/13/2026)

    A closer look at the crown of the avalanche on Taylor Pass that occurred last week. Although it is probably stubborn to trigger, the set up exists for a person to trigger a large avalanche if you find the right (or wrong) spot.

    Photo: Andrew Schauer

  • Loose Wet

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

    If the thick crust on southerly facing slopes remains intact today, the danger will be lower on these particular slopes. The easiest test to see how much melt is occurring is to step off your machine or boards and step into some untracked snow with your boot. If you sink to your shin in wet snow (snow that you can squeeze water out of) conditions are getting dangerous and it's time to choose lower angle slopes with nothing steep above.

    The danger this time of year can be very difficult to predict and depends on many factors including temperature, cloud cover, and precipitation, which can all change quickly. The chances for wet avalanches today will depend on how much the crust breaks down (or doesn't) on solar facing slopes. There isn't enough precipitation forecast to be very concerning with just 1 to 2" of new snow expected in the main forecast area. 

    Cornice Fall: With today's conditions (light snow, moderate wind and cloud cover) we don't expect cornice fall to be a big concern, but this time of year unexpected things can happen so give cornices a wide margin on the ridge and keep an eye on them if you are passing underneath.

    (4/16/2026)

    Snow forecast for today from 4AM to 4AM Friday courtesy of the National Weather Service Anchorage Office. We expect light rain below 1,300'.

     

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