November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    

November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    

November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.    

November Early Season update 11/26 Welcome to a new winter! Regular VAC forecasts will begin December 1st. Until then, please share your observations to bolster our understanding of how the early snowpack is developing. Warm and wet conditions continue for the Valdez/Thompson Pass area.  Freezing lines rose to 4000' on Thanksgiving and have been slowly descending to about 2500' as of 11/26 at 7 am.  This weather has increased the likelihood for wet loose avalanches below 2500' in steep terrain.  Storm slabs and snowpack depth are slowly building above 4000'.  The freezing line is forecasted to continue to drop to at or near sea level by Monday morning.  Valdez should see rain switch to snow as early as Sunday evening.  This will lower the likelihood for wet loose avalanches although storm slabs will continue to build at upper elevations.  As stated above storm slab sensitivity is unclear at this point but expect for sensitivity to increase during times of heavy precipitation.