Haines Avalanche Center

Forecast Expired - 2019-03-14

Above 2,500ftHigh

1,500 to 2,500ftHigh

Below 1,500ftConsiderable

Degrees of Avalanche Danger

Avalanche Problems

Problem 1

Storm Snow:

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 2

Persistent Slab:

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 3

Wet Avalanches:

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Avalanche Activity

Sadly, there was an avalanche involvement at Mumford’s (Lutak Zone), Wednesday 3/13 with one fatality. Details are still coming in and HAC staff will be visiting the site Thursday if possible.

Weather

5-16″ of new snow fell Saturday night – Sunday. Southeast winds were strong, and temperatures warmed up during the storm, raising snow levels to about 1500ft. Another storm hit Wednesday night, bringing 6-12″ of new snow above 1000ft. Light to moderate precipitation should continue off and on through the weekend, with snow levels staying around 1000-1500 ft.

 

Snow Depth [in]

Last 24-hr Snow/SWE [in]

Last 5-days Snow/SWE [in]

Today’s Freezing Level [ft]

Today’s Winds

Next 24-hr Snow/SWE

Mount Ripinsky @ treeline

79″

12″ / 1.00

24″ / 2.00

1000

mod, SE

2″ / 0.20 *

Flower Mountain @ treeline

55″

11″ / 0.80

18″ / 1.40

1000

mod, SE

3″ / 0.30 *

Chilkat Pass @ 3,100ft

33″

3+” / 0.15

8″ / 0.60

1000

mod, SE

3″ / 0.30 *

( *star means meteorological estimate )

Additional Information

If you get out riding, please send in an observation!

Do a rescue practice with your partners. Always carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, and KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.

Practice good risk management, which means only expose one person at a time to slopes 30 degrees and steeper, make group communication and unanimous decision making a priority, and choose your terrain wisely: eliminating unnecessary exposure and planning out your safe zones and escape routes.

Announcements

Details about Wednesday’s avalanche fatality will be updated on our accidents page: https://dev.alaskasnow.org/haines-hac/haines-accidents/