Avalanche forecast

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A layer of faceted snow sitting 12 -18" deep in the snowpack is our primary concern today.  This weak snow was responsible for multiple human-triggered and remote-triggered avalanches in Turnagain pass yesterday.  It'll be important to keep in mind potential consequences when choosing terrain today.  The snowpack is quite reactive, particularly in steeper wind affected terrain above ~1,800'.  Watch for signs of instability (recent avalanches, shooting cracks or whumpfing) or feel for these faceted layers with a quick hand pit or ski pole. This avalanche problem can be entirely avoided by sticking to lower angle terrain today.  

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Many areas on the Chugach National Forest are opening to snowmachines today!  Please check the Riding Areas page for the latest info on what is open.  Areas opening today represent 'information gaps' for our team.  If getting into any of these new zones in the coming days, please consider submitting some photos/ observation to the avalanche center.  Thanks in advance!

Happy New Year form the Friends of the CAC and the forecaster team! We wish for good health, happiness, a stable snowpack, and snow to sea level for everyone in our community in the coming year!

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent avalanches: A skier was caught and carried 200-300' on Sunburst yesterday.  Skier triggered avalanches were reported on Tincan and in Superbowl.  Multiple small human-triggered avalanches were also observed in the Seattle Ridge (moto side) area yesterday in both Main bowl and Warm-up bowl, both skier and remote triggered.  Additionally, there was a much larger and more connected natural avalanche in the 'Peak to Creek' area (south of Warm-up bowl) that likly occurred on Monday night or Tuesday morning during the tail end of the last storm.  All of these appeared to be in the 12-18" deep range.

    It appears we'll be starting out 2026 with a persistent slab problem.  The weak, sugary snow that developed during the extended 'dry December' cold snap is now buried under older wind slabs, degrading crusts, and anywhere from 8-12" of low density snow that fell Monday night/ Tuesday morning.  In most cases, the new snow by itself wasn't enough weight to tip the scale but when we add a skier or snowmachiner into the equation, we saw just how reactive this layer of facets can be.  Case in point, several human-triggered and remote-triggered avalanches yesterday throughout the advisory area.  In general, this avalanche activity was relegated to the top 12-18" of the snowpack, at and above treeline.  Sticking to lower angle terrain will be the best way to avoid this avalanche problem today.   If you find yourself stepping out into steeper terrain, keep in mind your consequences if the slope does slide.   

    Wind slabs: Northwest winds were at work yesterday on the high ridges.  With ample snow available for transport, we can expect fresh wind slabs in higher elevation, leeward terrain.  Fresh wind slabs will inch these facet layers that much closer to failure.

    Dry Loose Avalanches:  In steep terrain protected from the wind, dry loose avalanches could also be a concern today. These could be large enough to knock a skier off their feet or carry you over a cliff or into another terrain trap. 

    (12/31/2025)

    This is a good example of the avalanche problem we're dealing with today as you can see 2 skier-triggered avalanches and a remote-triggered avalanche in this frame.  S aspect, Main Bowl @ ~2,300'.  These are not huge avalanches but could spell trouble in consequential terrain.

    Photo: Tony Naciuk

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