Avalanche forecast

Seward and Lost Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

The Seward and Lost Lake area continues to get the brunt of the NW outflow winds. Both fresh wind slabs forming today up to 1' deep and lingering wind slabs from the past few days of strong wind up to 2+' deep are possible for a person to trigger today. These are most likely found at upper elevations along ridgelines and wind loaded gullies. 

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Motorized Access:  The Forest Service has opened Johnson Pass north trailhead and the Summit area to motorized use. You can see riding area status on the Forest HERE.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong winds continued yesterday and are expected to decrease slightly today to averages of 15 to 25 mph from the NW. While most soft snow on the surface has likely already been blown into wind slabs, it is still possible for fresh wind slabs up to 1' deep to form today. Larger lingering wind slabs up to 2+' deep from the past few days will also be possible for a person to trigger today.

    Due to the strong winds, snow can be transported lower on the slope than typical and form wind slabs in uncommon locations. Keep an eye out for shooting cracks, hollow feeling pillows of snow, and active wind transport to identify areas with wind slabs. Using small test slopes is a great way to check how reactive wind slabs are to the weight of a skier or rider. 

    Cornices are growing from the fresh wind transport and may be ready to fail. Try to give cornices a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines and avoid traveling underneath cornices that are being actively loaded by wind transport.

    (1/30/2025)

    Wind blowing snow long distances. This will create wind slabs at lower elevations, further down from the ridge. 

    Photo: Daniel Krueger

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