Avalanche forecast

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Today the avalanche hazard will start low in all areas. Warming temperatures softening the snowpack throughout the day will raise the hazard to Considerable. Natural and human-triggered wet loose avalanches will become likely as our snowpack becomes moist  throughout the day

This is the final week of public avalanche forecasts.  The last forecast of the season will be issued on Sunday 4/28.

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Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    For the last week, our main avalanche hazard has been wet loose avalanches. Mild overnight temperatures and consistently warm/sunny days have gradually allowed heat to penetrate deeper into the snowpack. Steep southerly slopes with punchy wet snow will be capable of producing small to large human-triggered and natural wet loose slides today. 

    Wet slides may start small but can quickly entrain large amounts of dense snow that could burry or knock a person over. Due to the density of the snow associated with this type of problem escaping from a wet slide can be difficult. Avoid travel below steep terrain today especially if your boot easily penetrates wet snow. 

    Keep in mind that slopes that are safely crossed in the morning may become hazardous later in the day. Choosing routes that avoid crossing steep terrain in the heat of the day is good practice today.  East faces will be the first to heat up with the hazard moving clockwise around the compass through the day. Expect significant warming on W-NW slopes in the afternoon/evening with the longer days we have been experiencing.

     

     

    (4/26/2024)

    large wet loose avalanches on 3 Pigs

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Wet slabs releasing on or near the ground have been observed in many areas recently.  Warm temperatures are beginning to penetrate deeper into our snowpack creating the possibility for deep wet slab releases in some areas.  As this process continues we will likely see wet slab activity on a variety of aspects. 

    Wet slab activity will be a bit more difficult to predict than wet loose due to deeper layers being involved. However,  a precursor to wet slab activity is generally wet loose activity on the surface. Another indicator is boot penetration. If your boot punches through wet unsupportable snow there may be a developing wet slab hazard. Wet slab and wet loose activity are likely to coincide with each other as slopes heat up throughout the day.  

    Wet slab hazards may exist all day in areas that haven't refrozen overnight. Mild evening temperatures may only refreeze surface snow leaving deeper snow moist. 

     

    (4/24/2024)

    Wet slab release near the toe of the Worthington Glacier

    Photo: Gareth Brown

Avalanche Discussion

RECENT AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:  

Last 72 hours: A D-2.5 wet slab release was observed near the toe of the Worthington Glacier.  This likely occurred on 4/24.  

Significant wet loose and possibly wet slab activity was observed on South 3 Pigs (37 mile).  

DISCUSSION:

Warm weather with no recent precipitation have left us with spring conditions in all areas. Hazards are currently being driven by daily and seasonal warming of the snowpack. Until we see a change in weather or snowpack conditions we can expect a continued predictable diurnal swing in hazard level. Hazards will be low in the morning and increase throughout the day.  Currently,  other concerns within the snowpack are limited. This could change in the near future if any weak layers "Wake up" with continued warming of the snowpack. 

Additional Concerns:

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

Glide crack releases have been observed on the southern aspects of Town Mountain 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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