CNFAIC Warns of Human Triggered Avalanches as Snowfall Finally Reaches Sea Level at Girdwood, AK

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Surface hoar from Seattle Ridge. Credit: Allen Dahl

After record-breaking amounts of rain last week, lower elevations in Alaska have finally seen snow, causing the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center to warn of human-triggered avalanches.

The base of Alyeska Resort, in Girdwood, saw 19-INCHES of rain just last week, but yesterday saw 5-8″ of fresh snow with another 4-6″ in the forecast.

Early this morning, Turnagain Pass and Girdwood have seen 5-8″ of new snow, with another 4-6″ forecast today. More in favored areas of course. New snow is falling on surface hoar and near-surface facets that formed with the cold weather earlier this week.

Watch for HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES in the new snow in areas with a foot or more of new snow and especially where the wind has blown!! Keep an eye out for cracking in the snow around you, stiff snow over softer snow, whumpfing in the snowpack, and any recent avalanches.

We will be out Friday and post an update for the weekend on Saturday morning. Heads up out there and let us know what you see!

Thanks to Allen Dahl for the surface hoar photo from Seattle Ridge and Charles Procknow for the Gold Pan photo from behind Magnum Ridge, both from Tuesday at Turnagain Pass.

CNFAIC

Gold Pan from behind Magnum Ridge. Credit: Charles Procknow

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