Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A welcome change to the pattern is in store today with a few inches of new snow in the forecast. This new weather shouldn't change the danger unless strong easterly wind arrives earlier than expected. There is still a chance a person could trigger an avalanche up to 1' deep above 2,500'. The most likely place to find this problem is just below ridgelines in places that have been wind loaded in the past. There has been a lack of recent glide activity, but continue to limit time underneath glide cracks as they are completely unpredictable.

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Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Precipitation is showing up on the radar this morning so it looks like 2 to 4" of snow could fall through the day with ridgetop southeast wind at 10 to 20mph. Easterly wind is forecast to increase this evening to 30 to 35 mph. Look for blowing snow and avoid places where it is being deposited if strong wind arrives early.

    It has now been about 24 hours since there were strong sustained north winds in Summit Lake which means wind slabs may not give any feedback like a shooting crack, and they may let a person get way out onto a slope before releasing. Feeling for firm snow over softer snow is the usual way to know we've found a wind slab, but firm snow is everywhere at this point. Choose terrain with a clean runout and travel one at a time on steep slopes to help reduce chances of injury.

    There are some other weak layers buried deeper in the snowpack, but these have grown stronger over the last 3 weeks of relatively quiet weather and chances of a person triggering an avalanche on one of these is unlikely.

    Glide Avalanches: We haven't heard any reports of glide avalanches recently, but they are unpredictable, so continue to keep an eye on visible cracks and limit time spent underneath them.

    (12/26/2025)

    A few inches of new snow is finally in the forecast today. This forecast is from 3AM Friday to 3AM Saturday.

    Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service Anchorage Forecast Office

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