Avalanche forecast

Seward and Lost Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

While natural avalanches are unlikely today, we are getting obvious signs from the snowpack that it is unstable. There are good chances a person could trigger a very large avalanche anywhere throughout our zones. One of these dangerous avalanches could be triggered from low angle terrain below a steep slope. You can completely avoid this problem by sticking to simple terrain, which is is less than 30°, not connected to steeper slopes above, and doesn't have terrain traps like gullies below.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent avalanches: Pictured here is an avalanche in the Lost Lake area that was noticed on Monday. This is an example of how even small features could be a problem. We received a second hand report of a human-triggered avalanche in the Lost Lake area on Friday. A very large natural avalanche cycle occurred during and after the storm last week. 

    We are still getting signs like shooting cracks, whumpfing that clearly tell us the snowpack needs more time.  The way to safely manage this problem for now is to stick to low angle (simple) terrain, ensuring there is nothing steep above. Check out this report from Lost Lake on Monday.

    Unfortunately, this problem isn't going away anytime soon. We are dealing with an unusually dangerous weak layer that exists across all of our zones and is buried up to 4' deep. This weak layer is so sensitive it could be triggered from flat terrain below a steep slope. Or it could be the third, fourth, or tenth rider that finds the thin spot and triggers a very large avalanche taking out all previous tracks. If your plan includes approaching steep terrain ensure all safety gear has been checked, travel one at a time in or under steep terrain, and watch your partners.

    (1/19/2026)

    Avalanche noticed on Monday in the Lost Lake area. It is unknown when this occurred or what the trigger was, but even smallish features like this one can be dangerous. 

    Photo submitted anonymously

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Ridgetop winds have calmed across the region. The wind slabs that are out there are getting old, but the older ones can catch you off guard. They become stubborn and can let you get way out onto a slope before releasing. They can be found just below ridgelines, on steep rolls, and in cross-loaded gullies. Triggering one of these old wind slabs could trigger a much larger and more dangerous avalanche described above. 

    (1/14/2026)

    This photo is a week old from Manitoba in Summit Lake, but it shows what wind affected snow can look like.

    Photo: Marc Heifetz

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