Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Glide cracks continue to release as large glide avalanches on commonly traveled slopes. Warm temperatures will increase the chance of wet loose avalanches. You can test for these on small test slopes and assume they will be more consequential on steeper ones. A weak layer of surface hoar buried 4 to 6’ deep is still a concern and fresh wind slabs may be forming in upper elevations. Choosing slopes that do not have terrain traps on them is a safer option if you get into avalanche terrain.

WEDNESDAY AVALANCHE OUTLOOK: As the clouds move out and temperatures rise the potential for wet avalanches will also increase. These include wet loose and glide avalanches. If it feels warm then seeking shady slopes will be the safest option. Look out for small slab avalanches from new snow that could warm up and slide easily on a crust as well as small wind slabs that may have fallen on a crust in upper elevations.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Motorized Closures: The Chugach National Forest has closed all winter motorized use areas due to low snow coverage, except for the Turnagain Pass/Seattle Ridge area. Visit our Riding Areas page for more information.

End of Season Operations: We have transitioned to our late season schedule. We will issue avalanche forecasts on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for the second half of April. We will issue our final forecast of the season on Sunday, April 27.

Risk management research: If you have been traveling in avalanche terrain for at least one season and want to help avalanche researchers develop new tools to assist individuals with managing risk in avalanche terrain, check out this 1-2 minute survey. Participants will be entered to win prizes from Jones Snowboards, BCA, and more!

Avalanche problems

  • Glide Cracks

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

    Glide cracks continue to release as large glide avalanches across the forecast zone. These are sending debris to valley bottoms in places where people are typically heading into the mountains. There are also many glide cracks that are still looming overhead. Look for these brown frowns as you plan your route. The safest option is to avoid traveling under them but if you must, spend as little time as possible.

    Wet snow avalanches, specifically wet loose avalanches will also be easier to trigger on steep slopes. Yesterday, multiple parties triggered these due to the warm spring temperatures. Even though the sun probably will not shine today, the clouds likely kept the snow from freezing overnight. It may be possible for someone to trigger a small slab in warm snow above a crust. 

    If your boots sink into warm, wet snow that is a good sign that the snow conditions are warm enough for wet loose avalanches. These can be large enough to carry a person into trees, off cliffs, or get buried in a terrain trap such as a gully. 

    Cornices are large and will be more likely to fall today. They tend to form on ridgelines above you so try to avoid spending time under them. If you find yourself on a ridge, give them plenty of room because they have been breaking much further back than expected.

    (4/20/2025)

    Glide avalanche activity on Petes North that likely released on 4/18.

    Photo: CNFAC Staff

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    There is still a chance a person could trigger a larger avalanche on a layer or surface hoar buried 4 to 6’ deep. Although it has been almost a month since an avalanche has occurred on this layer we are still seeing it intact in snowpits. This layer may be easier to trigger in places where the snow is thinner. It is also possible that a wet loose avalanche may trigger a much larger avalanche failing on this layer. 

    This has been a challenging layer to assess because it has given mixed results in snowpit tests. It may not exist in snowpits on the same slope that someone has triggered an avalanche on. Keep this in mind and consider choosing slopes with runouts that fan out and do not have terrain traps such as gullies in them where snow could pile up. Smaller start zones and slopes without cliffs and trees could also decrease the odds of being injured if an avalanche was triggered on this layer.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    There will be enough wind to blow snow into fresh wind slabs in upper elevations on wind loaded slopes. These will likely be less than a foot deep and may be easier to trigger where they are forming over a crust. If you see blowing snow then wind slabs are forming. They typically form below ridgelines, on convex rollovers, and in loaded gullies. Stiff snow and shooting cracks underneath you indicate you are traveling on a wind slab.

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