Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Lingering wind slabs up to 1' deep along ridgelines at upper elevations are the main concern today. These are getting more stubborn to trigger now that the winds are easing off. Deeper avalanches on buried weak layers up to 4' deep are still on our radar, but there have not been any recent human-triggered avalanches reported involving these old weak layers. The thinner snowpack in Summit Lake makes larger avalanches on buried weak layers more likely than in neighboring forecast zones. You can avoid this problem by sticking to lower elevation terrain and limiting time underneath large, steep slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent Avalanches: Over the weekend, some small wind slab avalanches were reported, but no larger avalanches stepping down to deeper weak layers. 

    Light northwest winds are expected to continue today, averaging 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Similar conditions to yesterday, with the potential for some new wind loading at upper elevations along ridgelines and convex features. There is still a chance of triggering a stubborn wind slab around 1' deep, but the likelihood is decreasing since most of the soft snow on the surface that could be transported into wind slabs has already been wind affected. Keep an eye out for shooting cracks and hollow feeling pillows of wind-loaded snow to identify locations with lingering wind slabs. 

    Cornice fall is possible with the sun starting to impact the snowpack more as we move towards the spring season. This is a typical mountain hazard that starts to become more dangerous later in the season as cornices grow larger and nice weather allows us to access alpine ridgelines more frequently. 

    (2/15/2026)

    Wind-affected snow surface on Manitoba.

     Photo: Andy Moderow

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Larger avalanches on buried weak layers 2 to 4' deep are still within the realm of possibility. Our field observations have been showing an encouraging trend towards these layers becoming less concerning, but in thin spots in the snowpack above 2500', there is still the potential to trigger a very large avalnache. The Summit Lake area has a thinner snowpack than the surrounding forecast zones, and these buried weak layers could be easier for a person to trigger. The fact that there were many slope testers out in the mountains this weekend, and no human-triggered avalanches were reported on this weak layer, is an encouraging sign. To avoid this issue entirely, you can always stick to lower-angle slopes and steer clear of large overhead avalanche paths. 

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