Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches on a widespread buried weak layer 2 to 3' deep remain possible. To avoid this issue we recommend sticking to low angle terrain and avoiding steeper slopes overhead. In the past few days, we have seen an increase in glide avalanche activity across the region. These large and destructive avalanches release randomly and the best way to avoid them is to identify slopes with existing glide cracks and avoid traveling beneath them. 

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Sean Sullivan, Cory Davis, and Travis Temple will be hosting a free avalanche awareness and rescue training event in memory of Tucker Challans on Saturday, March 29, at Alaska West Air in Nikiski. See the flyer in the media gallery below for more information.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The widespread layer of buried surface hoar 2 to 3' deep that caused the fatal avalanche accident on the back side of Seattle Ridge in Warmup Bowl last Saturday has us stuck in an entrenched mindset. That means our recommendation is still to avoid traveling on steep slopes and slopes with steeper terrain overhead. This message might be getting old, but there is no other way to confidently travel in the backcountry right now without a chance of triggering an avalanche on this persistent weak layer.

    Our field observations continue to show that the buried surface hoar exists in many areas. Even though our snowpit test results show the layer becoming more stubborn to initiate over time, triggering a very large avalanche on this layer remains possible and the consequences of being caught in this type of avalanche are severe. Even slopes with many tracks on them are not necessarily safe with this type of weak layer. If you decide to venture into steeper terrain, you should try to avoid slopes with terrain traps underneath that would increase the consequences of being caught in an avalanche. 

  • Glide Cracks

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

    The combination of warm temperatures and partly sunny skies the past few days has accelerated the transition to a spring snowpack. Across the region, an uptick in glide avalanche activity over the past few days is another sign that the snowpack is feeling the effects of the spring weather. Glide avalanches have been on our radar throughout the season, but the notable uptick in glide avalanche activity is a good reminder to carefully scan slopes above for signs of glide cracks and try to avoid spending time underneath. These massive avalanches release randomly and would be very dangerous to be caught in. 

    Wet loose avalanches have also been releasing naturally on steep solar aspects (east, south, west) as they heat up later in the day. This might not be as prominent today if cloudy conditions prevail, but depending on how thick the cloud layer is greenhouse effect can heat up the snowpack even without direct sun. On big slopes, wet loose avalanches can grow large as they run downhill and create a large debris pile if they run far.

    Cornice fall is another normal part of the transition to a spring snowpack and can happen randomly while cornices are heating up in the sun. Today is expected to be cloudier than the past few days, but it is still good practice to avoid spending time underneath cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling along ridgelines.

    (3/27/2025)

    Very large glide avalanche on Wilson South Mtn in Summit Lake.

    Photo: Daniel Krueger

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