Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

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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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There is a mix of different avalanche problems to manage today. At lower elevations and on solar aspects, wet loose avalanches have the potential to grow quite large as they descend long slopes. At upper elevations, lingering wind slabs up to 1' deep could be an issue in isolated pockets. Buried weak layers still exist deeper in the snowpack, but the likelihood of triggering remains low. 

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Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The snowfall over the past few days brought 2-4" of new snow in Summit Lake. Moderate east winds accompanied the snowfall, averaging 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Yesterday's rain up to about 1500' made for sticky travel conditions, and the snowpack is starting to feel saturated below treeline.

    Larger wet snow avalanches are becoming more likely as meltwater works its way deeper into the snowpack. Even small avalanches that start from the sun hitting rocks high on a slope can turn into large and destructive avalanches on long slopes. It is important to be aware of any skiers travelling below you on slopes where wet loose avalanches can gain momentum and size as they run downhill.

    If the sun comes out in earnest today, we could start to see larger natural or human-triggered wet avalanches on solar aspects. Temperatures have been creeping up over the past week, and it feels like we are nearing a tipping point towards transitioning to proper spring conditions. Wet avalanche conditions become more dangerous later in the day when temperatures are warmest, and the sun has had time to melt the surface snow. To manage this hazard, you can always move to a shadier aspect and stay at upper elevations where temperatures are colder to reduce your exposure to wet snow problems. 

    Lingering wind slabs from the recent snow are possible but much less likely here than in areas with heavier loading. Buried weak layers exist in the area, though they have shown no recent activity. These could become more concerning later in the spring as meltwater reaches them and potentially triggers larger wet slab avalanches.

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