Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

A storm is impacting the area today creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Strong easterly wind and a few inches of new snow are making it likely a person could trigger a large avalanche up to 2' deep. This is especially likely on northerly facing slopes above 2,000'. Rain is expected below 1,800' increasing chances a person could trigger a wet avalanche on any aspect. Choose low angle slopes today with nothing steep above to avoid all of these problems. Portage and Placer are expected to receive significantly more precipitation today and tomorrow. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist in that area and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

FRIDAY AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: This storm is forecast to continue tomorrow and Friday night. By tomorrow afternoon Turnagain Pass and Girdwood could have 12" of new snow or more above rainline. It will remain likely that a person could trigger a large avalanche 1 to 3' deep above 2,000'. Triggering a wet avalanche will also remain a concern and will become more likely as this storm progresses. The safest option is to avoid traveling on or under steep slopes until the storm has passed and the snowpack has time to adjust to the new load. By Friday morning avalanche conditions are expected to be very dangerous in Portage and Placer, travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended in those areas.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Forecast Operations: We have transitioned 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
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Recent Avalanches: Monday afternoon, a skier triggered a large avalanche on the north side of Tincan near Todd's Run in steep rocky terrain. No one was caught. A large natural avalanche was also observed on Monday, on the Shakespeare Glacier, which propagated widely across the slope. Both avalanches were large enough to bury a person.

    Although only 1 to 2" of new snow is expected today in Turnagain Pass and Girdwood, we expect conditions are dangerous. Weak snow that is buried up to 2' deep caused a human-triggered avalanche on Monday and is producing very unstable results in snowpit tests. Today, those layers are being stressed by new and windblown snow increasing chances a person could trigger a large avalanche on northerly facing slopes above 2,000'. South facing slopes have a slippery crust that could make it easy for new snow to slide.

    This storm is forecast to pick up in intensity tonight with 5 to 7" of new snow expected overnight (15" in Portage) accompanied by strong easterly wind. If the storm intensifies earlier than expected, there will be chances natural avalanches could occur, and human-triggered avalanches will become more likely. 

    Storm Slab: Portage and Placer could have enough new snow above rainline by 10am today to make Storm Slabs a concern. This type of avalanche will remain a concern until at least 24 hours after the storm is over. These avalanches will grow larger and more dangerous as the storm progresses.

    Wind Slabs: Strong easterly winds occurred overnight on Sunburst with a few inches of new snow making it likely a person could trigger a fresh wind slab today. Ridgelines will be a dangerous place to travel today, and this is where wind slabs are typically found. They can also be found on steep rolls and in cross-loaded gullies. The high wind speeds last night will make it more likely to find a wind slab lower on the slope than expected. 

  • Loose Wet

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

    Rain is expected below 1,800' today in this zone accompanied by above freezing temperatures. These conditions could break down the crust below 2,000' increasing chances for wet avalanches. Watch for roller balls as an indication this is becoming likely (see photo to the right). As the surface softens, wet loose avalanches will become larger and more difficult to manage. 

    As the crust breaks down, there will be chances a Wet Slab could occur naturally or be triggered by a person. This is a very dangerous type of avalanche that is difficult to survive because the snow is so heavy. If you are sinking up to your shin in wet snow (snow that you can squeeze water out of and it makes your glove wet) it's time to get out of there. If you transition to a northerly aspect you may find the dry snow problems described above.

    (4/22/2026)

    Large natural slab avalanche that occurred on Butch Mountain In the Summit Lake zone Wednesday sometime between 1 and 3pm. There is significant rollerball activity just to the left of the avalanche.

    Photo: Malcolm Herstand

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