Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Over 1' of new snow combined with strong easterly winds are making for very dangerous avalanche conditions today in this zone. Natural avalanches are likely and there are very good chances a person could trigger an avalanche 2 to 5' deep above 1000'. This is especially likely in areas that received more precipitation yesterday like Girdwood, Portage, Placer, and Seward. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

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CHUGACH STATE PARK: Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in Chugach State Park. New snow and increasing winds have formed fresh wind slabs over a weak, faceted snowpack. Human-triggered avalanches are likely in wind-loaded terrain, and avalanches may step down into deeper persistent weak layers, producing large and dangerous slides. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. See today's updated outlook for more info.

Join us Friday, Feb. 13, for the annual Snowball fundraiser! This event is a collaboration with the Alaska Avalanche School and is always a fun way to support two nonprofit organizations that provide avalanche information and education in our area. Silent auction, beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and music by Hope Social Club! Tickets and event info at alaskaavalanche.org

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent avalanches: There were two large human-triggered avalanches last week in Turnagain Pass. One was triggered by a snowmachine in Warm-Up Bowl and the other was likely a remote trigger on Sunburst. 

    This is one of those days where the danger is higher in one part of this zone than another. Girdwood, Portage, and Placer received substantially more snow and water than Turnagain Pass making conditions more dangerous in those areas (see storm totals below). Snow fell to sea level for much of the day yesterday, but rainline rose to about 1,500' last night and should remain around 1,500' today. All of these areas including Turnagain Pass could receive 4 to 6" of snow today above rainline combined with strong easterly winds of 30 to 50 mph. Regardless of which area you are in, there are good chances a person could trigger a very large avalanche with serious consequences due to the weak snow that is buried up to 5' below the surface. 

    Many of the avalanches that have occured on this layer have been triggered remotely from flat terrain below or above the avalanche. Some of the avalanches have been triggered after there were several tracks on the slope. This information tells us this layer can be very sensitive and it is unpredictable. Through the duration of this series of storms, the way to have a safe day is to avoid avalanche terrain and enjoy low angle slopes with nothing steep above. 

    Estimated snow totals above rainline from Monday to Wednesday morning at 6am:

    Location Snow Water Girdwood 13" 1.25" Portage/Placer 4" 2" (this is 2' of snow above rainline!) Turnagain Pass 3" 0.3" Summit Lake 3" 0.3" Grouse Creek 8" 0.6"

    (1/28/2026)

    Snow forecast from 3am Wednesday to 3am Thursday

    Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service Anchorage Office

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    A variety of storm related avalaches could be occurring today. In places that recieved more precipitation like Girdwood, Portage, Placer, and Seward it will be likely a person could trigger a Storm Slab up to 1.5' deep. These could be anywhere above 1,000'. 

    Across zones easterly ridgetop winds are forecast to be strong today, blowing up to 50 mph, making natural Wind Slab avalanches likely and human-triggered avalanches very likely. These avalanches could be up to 2' deep, could be found in any area exposed to wind (even at treeline) and should be touchy as the wind increases. An observer from Tincan yesterday reported shooting cracks at 2,200' in the treeline elevation band, which means conditions were unstable yesterday and more snow and wind is forecast today. 

    Wet Loose: With warming temperatures and rain falling on snow, small wet loose avalanches could be occurring on steep slopes.  Watch for roller balls to know this is happening.

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