Observation Area: Valdez Chugach

PRIMARY CONCERN: Human triggered avalanches are expected in the upper wind loaded terrain. Watch for windslab. Natural activity is expected with continued extreme northerly outflow winds at the ridgetops. New windslabs building over facets (sugar snow).

TRAVEL ADVISE:  Use safe travel techniques. Minimize exposure to windloaded terrain steep enough to slide. 

SNOWPACK STABILITY - TREND:  Decreasing with wind loading of avalanche start zones.

Stability rating:  Fair.

AVALANCHE OBSERVATIONS: No new observations reported.

SNOWPACK: 6" t0 10" 0f new low density snow over the near-surface facets (sugar snow) and surface hoar created after Christmas (12/28 to 1/2) with easy shears at the new storm/near-surface facet interface. This weak layer sits on the foot of settled storm snow from Dec. 22-28. There is mostly strong snow below that down to the now strengthening November sugar on the ground. 

The average snowpack depth at 3000' is about 6.5 feet in the inter-mountain snow climate zone.

Weak Layers to Watch: Watch for windslab over near-surface facets developed 12/28 to 1/2 cold clear weather.

WEATHER FORECAST:  Valdez NWS. Extreme north winds. Significant wind chill.

Current Weather at Thompson Pass

RESOURCES:   Avalanche Danger Scale

Snow Encyclopedia 

Snowpack Stability Scale

Avalanche Size Table

Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale 

Shear Fracture Character 

Propagation Saw Test

Extended Column Test 

Map of Valdez ski runs (2MB)