Avalanche forecast

Summit Lake

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Lingering wind slabs about 1' deep sitting on top of faceted snow could still cause human-triggered avalanches today. Triggering a larger avalanche on a weak layer of facets 1 to 3' deep is an unlikely outlier that could produce a larger avalanche, but there have not been any recent avalanches on this weak layer.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph impacted the Summit Lake area yesterday. Those wind slabs could still cause human-triggered avalanches around 1' deep today. Expect to find wind slabs around 1' deep at upper elevations near ridgelines and convex features. To identify locations with wind slabs, you can look for shooting cracks on the snow surface, hollow feeling pillows of snow, or use test slopes to check how reactive wind drifts are to the weight of a skier or rider.

    The Summit Lake area has several weak layers of facets deeper in the snowpack that we are tracking, but have not produced any recent avalanches. In areas that received heavy wind loading yesterday, there is a chance that triggering a lingering wind slab avalanche could step down to a deeper weak layer buried 1.5 to 3' deep.

    Dry loose avalanches in steep terrain are also likely today and could run faster than normal. These are typically not large enough to bury a person, but they can knock you off your feet in steep terrain.

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