Bollettino valanghe

Continental

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
3 · Marcato
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In sintesi

The avalanche hazard will begin as low today on all aspects and elevations.  As the surface of the snow begins to melt the hazard will increase to Considerable.  Human triggered and natural wet loose avalanches will become likely during the heat of the day.

This is the final week of public avalanche forecasts.  The last forecast of the season will be issued on Sunday 4/28.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2.5

    Wet loose avalanches are once again today's primary avalanche concern.   Avoid travelling on or spending time below steep terrain where more than 4 inches of the surface snow is wet.

     This type of avalanche starts small and slow but can quickly grow and become dangerous, potentially burying or sweeping a person away, especially in steep, rocky areas or near cliffs.

    Today’s avalanche risk starts low in the morning and increases with the sun's warmth, first on east-facing slopes and later moving to south and west-northwest aspects as the day progresses. A slope that is frozen and stable in the morning might not be safe in the afternoon. Stay off steep slopes that catch the sun during warm periods.

    To stay safe, be mindful of the sun's path and avoid steep sunny slopes during their warmest times. Always consider the terrain below you, avoiding areas that could amplify the consequences of an avalanche, like cliffs and gullies.

    (4/22/2024)

    Widespread wet loose activity on steep south facing terrain near the coast.

    Photo: Gareth Brown

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    2–3

    The degree of natural avalanche activity is beginning to increase.  Several large naturals have been noted over the last 48 hours.  A deep wet slab release at ~3000' near the toe of the Worthington Glacier is a clear indicator that heat is beginning to penetrate deeper into the snowpack.  As this process continues it will become increasingly likely for us to see significant wet loose and wet slab activity to occur on more than just south aspects.

    There is still a lot of snow mass in the mountains.  Daytime high and low temperatures have increased significantly over the last week.  This change puts stress on the snowpack.  The first signs of stress are in the form of wet loose activity that occurs at the surface.  As heat can penetrate deeper into the snowpack it becomes more likely for stress to be relieved in the form of wet slabs as old interfaces deeper in the snowpack that were dormant become lubricated by meltwater and reactivate.  Identifying which slopes are prone to this kind of release is difficult.  What we can do is recognize that this type of activity will be most likely to occur during the heat of the day when more than 6 inches of the surface is wet and the snowpack begins to be unsupportable on foot.  Avoid steep terrain when these conditions are present.

    (4/24/2024)

    Wet slab release near the toe of the Worthington Glacier

    Photo: Gareth Brown

Avalanche Discussion

RECENT AVALANCHE ACTIVITY:  

Last 48 hours: A D-2.5 wet slab release was observed near the toe of the Worthington Glacier.  This likely occurred on 4/24.  

Significant wet loose and possibly wet slab activity was observed on South 3 Pigs (37 mile).  

DISCUSSION:

Springtime conditions are in full effect. Our snowpack is generally stable with the only current concern being those that are created by solar input.  Snowpack stability will vary significantly dependent on the time of day and aspect.  In areas where the snow surface is frozen, the hazard is low.  Solar aspects that are steep are going through a daily period of elevated avalanche hazard when exposed to direct sun.  This process is very predictable making mitigation of this hazard far more straightforward than avoiding other avalanche problems.  The main hazard for users will be exposing themselves to steep terrain that is baking in the sun.  Keep in mind that triggering wet loose activity is not the only concern, but includes staying out of the way of the natural shedding process that occurs each day.  Avoid grouping up and spending time beneath large sunny slopes especially ones with cornices.

Wet slab activity is becoming more likely during the heat of the day as heat is beginning to penetrate deeper into the snowpack.  Wet slab releases involve far more mass than a typical wet loose release making them far more dangerous.

Additional Concerns:

This is the time of year when cornices begin to fail.  You can significantly reduce your overall exposure in the mountains this time of year by avoiding traveling on top of or under cornices.

Glide crack releases have been observed on the southern aspects of Town Mountain lately.  Glide cracks exist in isolated areas and will be a hazard throughout the season until they fail.  Avoid exposure to glide cracks.

Valdez season snowfall: 286  inches

Valdez April snowfall: 11 inches

Valdez height of snowpack: 59 inches

Thompson Pass season snowfall: 698 inches as of 4/5

46 mile height of snowpack: 52 inches

 

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