Avalanche forecast

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

The avalanche hazard will begin as low at all elevations and aspects.  The hazard will increase to moderate as temperatures warm and create the possibility for wet loose avalanches on solar aspects.  Wet loose activity will be dependent on the amount of sun that occurs.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet loose avalanches are once again today's primary avalanche concern. The potential for wet loose activity to occur may be limited today by increasing cloud cover that has been forecasted to arrive by early afternoon.  Pay attention to the amount of warming that is occurring on the surface of the snow.

    Avoid steep slopes where the top few inches of snow are wet. This type of avalanche starts small and slow but can quickly grow and become dangerous, potentially burying or sweeping a person away, especially in steep, rocky areas or near cliffs.

    Today’s avalanche risk starts low in the morning and increases with the sun's warmth, first on east-facing slopes and later moving to south and west-northwest aspects as the day progresses. A slope that is frozen and stable in the morning might not be safe in the afternoon. Stay off steep slopes that catch the sun during warm periods.

    To stay safe, be mindful of the sun's path and avoid steep sunny slopes during their warmest times. Always consider the terrain below you, avoiding areas that could amplify the consequences of an avalanche, like cliffs and gullies.

    (4/15/2024)

    Wet loose and wet slab natural activity on steep south aspect

    Photo: Gareth Brown

Avalanche Discussion

RECENT AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:  

Last 48 hours: Multiple D1-2 natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches have been observed on solar aspects.

DISCUSSION:

The last week has brought sunny skies, mostly calm wind and slowly increasing temperatures.  This has allowed our snowpack to gain strength with good stability currently in place.  The exception to this is solar aspects during the heat of the day.  The mountains have been extremely busy even for this time of year with a significant amount of terrain being tested by skiers and snowmachines and very little avalanche activity.  North aspects at upper elevation will maintain a low hazard throughout the day, however, be aware that small pockets of shallow wind slabs may exist in isolated areas.

The main concern to look out for is wet loose activity on steep slopes that are being heated up by the sun.  The degree to which this problem occurs will be dependant upon the amount of cloud cover that occurs today. and at what time it arrives.  This avalanche problem is easy to avoid as it gives clear signs of its presence such as wet snow at the surface, roller balls and recent natural avalanche activity on similar aspects.

Overnight freezes have been fairly mild the last few days.  This is allowing heat to penetrate deeper into the snowpack which will slowly increase the risk of wet slab avalanches and a more significant shed cycle to occur at some point later this season.  

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.

Valdez season snowfall: 286  inches

Valdez April snowfall: 11 inches

Valdez height of snowpack: 66 inches

Thompson Pass season snowfall: 698 inches as of 4/5

46 mile height of snowpack: 64 inches

 

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