Avalanche forecast

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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 avalanche hazard is Moderate above 1500 feet elevation.  Human triggered avalanches are possible 1-3 feet deep in isolated areas.  Natural avalanches are unlikely.

Public avalanche forecasts are issued Wednesday- Sunday at 8 am

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    It has been a week since E and NE winds redistributed large amounts of snow into deep wind slabs in specific areas. During this period windslab avalanches up to 4 feet deep had released throughout the forecast area. There has been no windslab activity for several days and this problem is becoming inactive. Although unlikely, triggering a deep windslab could have destructive consequences. In isolated areas, there is a small possibility a traveler could trigger a thin windslab that propagates into deeper areas. Benign weather conditions will continue to allow this problem to become less likely in the near future.

     

    Wind formed sastrugi formations are one of the many varieties of wind affected snow you can expect to encounter.

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3–4

    Larg and  rapidly deposited loads on our snowpack over widespread areas caused many large Deep Persistent Slab avalanches over the last month. The most recent wind event contributed to loading on specific leeward slopes. All Deep Persistent Slab avalanches had released during or immediately after the deposition of massive loads of storm snow.  The trigger in these cases was simple overloading of the snowpack over a short period. Smaller triggers such as a human or snow machine would be unlikely to trigger avalanches this deep. 

    These types of avalanches are becoming increasingly unlikely but we are keeping the problem on our radar because of the notable size of many deep persistent slabs in the area.  Most likely it would take another large storm cycle to activate this problem. Although unlikely, travelers should consider the possibility of a smaller avalanche or a cornice fall triggering a deeper slab avalanche in isolated areas with heavy snow loads. 

     Catastrophic avalanches were observed on the following peaks in the area over the last 2 weeks.  North Ramp of Mt Francis, East face of Sapphire, North face of Goodwills, Mt Dimond area, Berlin Wall, and the North Face of Three Pigs.  

     

    (2/1/2025)

    Three Pigs North Face HS-N-R5-D4

    Photo: Kyle Sobek

Avalanche Discussion

Observed Avalanche Activity last 72 hours: 

None

For information about the previous Deep slab avalanche cycle click the avalanches tab below the bottom line statement once you have entered the full forecast for a partial documentation of activity.

Three Pigs natural avalanche information click link here.

Forecast Discussion:

Dry and relatively calm conditions will continue to prevail throughout the area. This looks to be the case for the majority of the upcoming week. There has been minimal avalanche activity in our area for several days. Our upper snowpack contains no persistent weak layers and will continue to gain strength over this period of mild weather.  Expect status quo conditions until we get another dose of precipitation. 

 The disconcerting deep slab avalanche cycle at the end of January is behind us.  However, we can't rule out one of these avalanches being triggered by a large load in the future such as cornice fall, human human-triggered avalanche that steps down, or the spring thaw later this season.  

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Additional Information:

A weather and snowpack season history is available by clicking on the Season Summary tab which is located above the bottom line statement once you have entered the full forecast.

Season Snowfall Data

Location 24 hour Snowfall Inches- 2/2 24 hour Snow Water Equivalent Inches Height of Snow February Snowfall Inches Season Total Snowfall Valdez    0    0    30     0      Thompson Pass    0    0   N/O    0    ~500 Nicks    0    0    143    0 N/O 46 Mile    0     0   22    0 N/O

Regions covered