Avalanche Danger Update

Dangerous avalanche conditions.  Travel in and around avalanche terrain is not recommended today!

Issued 1/2/18 10:00am:

Beware of overhead avalanche danger.  Natural avalanches triggered in the upper elevations have the potential to descend into the mid and lower elevations and affect popular trails (e.g. Powerline trail from Glen Alps, Falls Creek trail from Turnagain Arm).

Extreme winds (gusts ~90mph and sustained ~40mph), relatively warm temperatures (above freezing to ~2500′), and mixed precipitation (rain and snow) have significantly increased avalanche danger in Chugach State Park.

Avalanche danger is expected to start subsiding tonight into Wednesday, and relatively benign weather is forecast for the rest of the week.  However, the early season snowpack should remain suspect due to persistent weak layers.

We are still not issuing regular (weekend) advisories and observations due to lack of snow.  Issuance of regular informational products will commence as soon as there is adequate snow for reliable backountry travel by ski.