Bulletin d’avalanche

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Alpin
4 · Fort
Limite forestière
4 · Fort
Sous la limite
4 · Fort
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 2 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

The avalanche hazard is HIGH at all elevations. A prolonged period of heavy snowfall has created widespread areas of unstable snow.  Human triggered avalanches are very likely.  Large natural avalanches are likely that may run full path.  TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECCOMENDED.

Public avalanche forecasts are issued Wednesday- Sunday.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Very Likely
    Taille
    2–3

    Heavy snowfall is overloading the snowpack.  Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in all forecast zones.  Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.  Avoid traveling in or below avalanche paths, as natural avalanches will have the potential to run into valley bottoms.

    Thomspson Pass has received over 2 feet of snow in the last 24 hours.  Heavy snowfall during the previous 24 hours is expected to increase in intensity this afternoon through this evening with an additional 2-3 feet of snow possible.  

    Photo: Windy Product

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    2–2.5

    As of 6 am snow is falling all the way to sea level.  It is possible that snow may switch to rain for a brief period during the day today before returning to all snow this evening.  If this does occur wet loose natural avalanches will become likely as the dry snow currently at the surface will quickly react to rain and become unstable on slopes steeper than 30°.  

    This is a secondary concern to storm slabs.  Heavy snowfall today is the major factor today creating widespread areas of unstable snow.

     

Avalanche Discussion

Observed Avalanche Activity last 72 hours: 

Limited observations from the past several days due to low visibility. 

More info is available about the last avalanche cycle by clicking the Avalanches tab or the Season Summary tab just below the bottom line statement.

Forecast Discussion:

Consistent snowfall over the last 4 days has been steadily building storm slabs.  Thompson Pass has reported 57" of snow in the last 4 days with 24 of that falling in the last 24 hours.  An additional 2-3 feet of snowfall is expected today that will create widespread areas of unstable snow.  It is possible that precipitation rates may slow down this morning for a few hours before ramping up again this afternoon through this evening.

The hazard we are facing is very simple today and doesn't have anything to do with any major flaws with the existing snowpack.  We are simply being overloaded by new snowfall with high precipitation rates creating widespread areas of unstable snow.  This new snow will need time to bond to the underlying snowpack.  In the meantime DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST.  TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.  Previous avalanche cycles have paved avalanche paths with debris.  This will allow natural avalanches to run long distances.

Additional Information:

A weather and snowpack season history is available by clicking on the Season Summary tab that is located above the bottom line statement once you have entered the full forecast.

Glide cracks that existed on the buttresses from Nicks through Cracked Ice on North aspects at mid elevation were stagnant prior to the recent snowfall and are now filled in.  It will be worth watching for them to reappear, but this may be a problem of the past.

Season Snowfall Data

Location 24 hour Snowfall Inches- 1/26 24 hour Snow Water Equivalent Inches Height of Snow January Snowfall Inches Season Total Snowfall Valdez    ~16    N/O    30           Thompson Pass    24    N/O   N/O    269    462 Nicks    23    N/O    150     N/O 46 Mile    0     .19   20    10 N/O

Régions couvertes