Bollettino valanghe

Intermountain

Valdez Avalanche Center
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Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Triggering a windslab will be the most likely avalanche Hazard to be encountered today.   Windslabs 10-20cm thick on the leeward sides of specific terrain features may still have the possibility of producing an avalanche large enough to injure or bury a person. Signs that you may be travelling on a windslab include hearing drum-like sounds under your feet or cracking/whomphing.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Today, our main concern in all zones continues to be the windslabs that formed earlier this week.  Expect to find 10-20 cm thick windslabs with deeper pockets in isolated areas throughout the maritime and continental zones today. Windslabs that were initially sensitive to human triggers have gained strength over the last couple of days, becoming less reactive. There is still a possibility that a person could trigger a hazardous avalanche in certain areas where windslabs overrlie weak faceted snow. The leeward sides of mid-mountain shoulders and steep protected gullies are likely areas to find potentially sensitive windslabs.  Keep in mind that areas with the highest winds have been stripped and scoured, so they probably lack significant wind slab formation, while areas that have experienced moderate winds with protected deposition zones are more likely to harbor windslab. 

    Our continental zone to the North has received the most snow durring last week's accumulation. Potentially reactive windslabs may be thicker and more extensive in this area, so we are keeping the hazard rating in this zone at Considerable for the time being until we gain more information. 

    This avalanche problem can be managed through careful route finding and conservative terrain selection. The wind slabs will likely exist on cross-loaded gullies, lee slopes, and protected gullies/bowls. Noting the direction and strength of the wind will help identify the side of terrain features where windslabs have formed. Shooting cracks and collapses (whoomps) are signs that wind slabs are reactive and have the potential to create avalanches.

    Active wind slab formation is subsiding due to the reduction in additional snow for transport in most areas, but some areas in the North end of our forecast area may still have snow available for slab formation. 

     

    (1/2/2026)

    This is the leeward side on one of many ridges descending toward the road in Thompson Pass. Note the old textured snow surface in forground with smoother windslab near ridgecrest. 

    Photo: Joshua McDonald

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity in the last 72 hours:  Small natural avalanches were observed on wind-loaded rollovers in Moonlight Basin on 12/31. N-R2-D1

Forecast Discussion:  

The December drought has left us with a thin, faceted (weak) snowpack with quite a bit of spatial variability. For the short term, we expect continued weakening of the snow on the ground with no immediate effect on stability or avalanche hazard. Increasing chances of snow into next week may create multiple avalanche hazards once a slab and additional load stresses these layers. Stay tuned as a pattern change is becoming likely within the next week. 

An additional concern today is the cold. There is currently a cold weather advisory for Thompson Pass and the Copper River Valley. Expect frigid temperatures and dangerous windchills through Jan 4th. 

Additional Details:  There is no field data from the Maritime zone due to low snow coverage and thick brush restricting access.  Numerous Glide avalanches have released in the Maritime zone in the mid elevation band.  Some of these may have failed without previous visible glide cracks.  Avoid travel below glide cracks as they can fail at any time.  Their likelihood of failure is independent of the snowpack stability.  Check out the season summary tab for more information on the development of the snowpack.

 

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