Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

There is a good chance that a human could trigger a large avalanche 1 to 3’ deep on one of several layers of buried weak snow. These layers have been found all the way to ridgetops and can be very hard to assess. Approach the mountains with caution today, and consider making conservative decisions. Glide avalanches continue to release at an alarming rate. The safest bet is to avoid traveling under glide cracks. Finally, moderate southeast winds from a brief storm will form small wind slabs so be on the lookout for blowing snow and head for slopes sheltered from the wind.

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Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–2.5

    Recent Avalanches: There have been no reports of avalanches since Friday when we had several large natural avalanches in Seattle Ridge (Main Bowl, weather station bowl, Jr’s, Warm-Up Bowl). There was also a human triggered avalanche on Sunburst and several remote triggered avalanches in the Tincan trees (observations are here and here).

    We should have our guard up if we are getting into the backcountry today. It has been four days since we had a widespread avalanche cycle where large avalanches were failing on one of several buried weak layers 1 to 3' deep. This unstable snowpack has been seen up to the ridges meaning it is on many slopes. We heard a report that the rain line reached at least 2,200' which may eventually make these layers harder to trigger where a rain crust forms, but it is still not a snowpack setup we can trust. 

    Approach the mountains with caution today. It can be tough to assess how dangerous the snowpack is on the slope you want to ride. With weak layers like these it is possible to ride the slope a few times, or to get stable results in snow tests only for the slope to rip out as a large avalanche. When the snow is tricky it's best to give it time to gain strength and enjoy lower angle slopes. 

    Wind Slabs: The storm overhead will likely form small wind slabs below ridges and convex rollovers. If you see wind blown snow be aware that wind slabs are forming. More importantly, triggering a wind slab avalanche could also trigger one of these deeper weak layers creating a much larger avalanche. You will likely be traveling on a wind slab if the snow below you is stiff and sounds hollow. Your best bet is to turn around and find softer snow sheltered from the wind.

     

    (11/28/2025)

    Skier triggered avalanche on Sunburst. 

    Photo: Public

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide avalanche activity has been pretty reliable this season for being so hard to predict. It seems that after each storm there is a fresh batch of glide avalanches releasing. These are big avalanches that can be destructive and run to valley bottoms. The most concerning thing is that they are releasing above or on popular uptracks and slopes. An observation yesterday reported a large glide avalanche that released on the main ski slope on Sunburst. Be on the lookout for glide cracks which look like big brown frowns in the snow. The safest option is to steer clear of them. If you have to pass under them, do so quickly and go one at a time

    (12/25/2025)

    Before and after photos of the glide avalanche activity on Seattle Ridge to put some perspective on how rapidly the glide cracks are opening into large avalanches. 

    Photo: Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center

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