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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Sat, April 12th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sun, April 13th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Kevin Wright
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

A change in the weather will be changing the snow stability today.  Look for pockets of  MODERATE   avalanche danger as wind slabs build above treeline.  Shaded northerly aspects are holding plenty of soft snow that can be blown around by today’s forecasted wind.  

Special Announcements

Lost Lake, Primrose, and Resurrection pass trail have closed to snowmachines due to inadequate snow cover.  Check the bottom of this page for the latest information on motorized areas.  

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Sat, April 12th, 2014
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Moderate (2)
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Avalanche risk
Moderate (2)
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Danger Scale:
No Rating (0)
Low (1)
Moderate (2)
Considerable (3)
High (4)
Extreme (5)
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Wind Slabs
    Wind Slabs
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
More info at Avalanche.org

Most of the sunny faces (south, east, and west) are crusty at the surface.  This is not the case for north faces, which hold 6+ inches of soft snow.  With forecasted wind today, that soft snow may build into slabs of unstable snow.  This morning the biggest danger is probably just loose snow sluffing, but after the wind kicks up that will change to smaller pockets of wind slab.  

Any freshly formed wind slab will be poorly bonded to the snow underneath.  Expect it to be hair trigger today if you approach any steep terrain.

By tomorrow this wind slab may be joined with fresh storm snow, but that snowfall is not expected to be significant today.  

The photo below shows distribution of sun crusted terrain.  The bowl is west facing, the slopes on the left face south, the slopes on the right face north.  Everything left of the black line has a surface crust.  Everything right of the line is soft and loose.

Weather
Sat, April 12th, 2014

Clouds have taken over our previously sunny skies.  A chance of rain and snow is possible today, with very little accumulation expected.  Wind will increase, look for ridgetop wind to hit 15-30mph today and 25-45mph tonight from the southeast.  Temperatures will reach the high 30s during the day and drop to the high 20s at night.

Precipitation is likely to increase on Sunday with snowfall accumulating.  Total depths are not expected to exceed about 6 inches in the mountains, but stay tuned as those numbers get updated.  

Latest infrared satellite image.

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Riding Areas
Updated Thu, June 01st, 2023

Status of riding areas across the Chugach NF is managed by the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts, not avalanche center staff. Riding area information is posted as a public service to our users and updated based on snow depth and snow density to prevent resource damage at trailhead locations. Riding area questions contact: mailroom_r10_chugach@fs.fed.us

Area Status Weather & Riding Conditions
Glacier District
Johnson Pass
Closed
Closed May 15.
Placer River
Closed
Closed May 15.
Skookum Drainage
Closed
Will close to motorized use on April 1, 2023 per the National Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass
Closed
Will close on June 1.
Twentymile
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Seward District
Carter Lake
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Lost Lake Trail
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Primrose Trail
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor
Closed
Extended opening until May 15.
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.
Summit Lake
Closed
Scheduled closure May 1.

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This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area. This advisory does not apply to highways, railroads or operating ski areas.