BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING

Major Heat Wave Expected for Two-Thirds of the U.S.

A dangerous and widespread summer heat wave is expected through this upcoming weekend across much of the Central and Eastern U.S. A large dome of high pressure will allow high temperatures to surge into the 90s and 100s in many locations, while heat indices will top 100 and approach 110 degrees or higher. There also will be no relief at night, as low temperatures remain in the upper 70s and 80s. Read More >

THE CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER IN GIRDWOOD AK HAS ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING. * TIMING...IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TODAY, APRIL 4, TO 9 PM TOMORROW, APRIL 5 * AFFECTED AREA...FOR TURNAGAIN PASS, THE KENAI AND WESTERN CHUGACH MOUNTAINS IN AND AROUND EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM. * AVALANCHE DANGER...THE AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH AND IS EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY. * REASON...RECENT HEAVY SNOWFALL AND RAIN COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS HAVE CREATED WIDESPREAD AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW. NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE VERY LIKELY ON SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES. PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... BACKCOUNTRY TRAVELERS SHOULD STAY OFF OF...AND OUT FROM UNDERNEATH...SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES. AVALANCHES MAY RUN LONG DISTANCES. CHOOSE CONSERVATIVE TERRAIN. SIMILAR AVALANCHE DANGER MAY EXIST AT LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THE COVERAGE AREA. CHECK WWW.AVALANCHE.ORG FOR YOUR CLOSEST AVALANCHE CENTER. CHECK WWW.FSAVALANCHE.ORG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY AVALANCHE HAZARDS. THIS WARNING DOES NOT APPLY TO SKI AREAS OR HIGHWAYS WHERE AVALANCHE REDUCTION MEASURES ARE PERFORMED. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CNFAIC.ORG or CALL: CNFAIC STAFF ON DUTY: WENDY WAGNER (907) 229-9060 OR ALEPH JOHNSTON-BLOOM (970) 749-2912