Valdez is coming unglued...

[Z]

Hope everyone is okay and things mellow out.

Crazy stuff. Wonder how high the rain line made it..5000ft? Looks like Southeast missed a good amount of the moisture? Anyone in the area?

[HansJob]

Valdez Ice Climbing Festival's FB page has an aerial video of the devastation. It's huge. Another larger avalanche just hit Keystone Canyon. Another flood warning has been issued for the area and DOT estimates suggest as much as 80 feet of snow is blocking the highway. In one pic there's a large amount of water. Damn.

[Z]

Ya that video is pretty incredible. Can't find a way to link it here at the moment, but worth a watch.

[HansJob]

Hope no one was driving on that when it went.

[Supermoon]

Ya that video is pretty incredible. Can't find a way to link it here at the moment, but worth a watch.

Just saw this. Is it the one?: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153777611315215

Looks like the river has backed way up from the slide.

[HansJob]

That's it.

[totaliboard]

Damn. That road's gonna be closed for a long time.

[Chugachjed]

Yep, they are saying it will be closed till monday.

[raisingarizona13]

So what happens when the dam gives?

[BFD]

that is unreal. this winter is unprecedented. this may be the first winter in 30 years I am not in AK for March. ADN reports at least a week for the closure. I hope the issue gets resolved with out any death or injury.

[whipski]

Know folks who are being evacuated to higher ground lest the snow damn breaks and floods town could be worse than the tsunami? temps were supposed to be higher in Anchorage than parts of FL yesterday.

[totaliboard]

Yep, they are saying it will be closed till monday.

you guys must have the best snow removal crew in the world up there.. although maybe shit like that happens all the time in ak.

[CTR]

Leo....how is the weather and the conditions around you in Cordova? we are penciled in to do the Tour Camp again the first week of April....what is your "prediction" for skiing then?! thanks, Chet

[Z]

^unanswerable question.

[HansJob]

Here's the latest. Also Alyeska closed their ski area for now. Breakup comes early.
http://www.adn.com/2014/01/26/329251...rews-from.html

[flyman683]

Breakup comes early.

^this. Looking at the CNFAIC and hatcher pass Hatcher Pass AC photos is depressing - it's like April out there & it's ruining "family ski time" with the low rain line. Even with no pow, it's usually still a good time to bring the kids out and get some time in.

Re: Valdez - Alaska DOT has an engineer who got in yesterday and should have a report by end of day on what they're plan will be. I imagine, due to the snow dam, nobody really wants go digging at the other side for removal efforts. Maybe they'll bomb it from above?

The road is not going to be in good shape, even once the snow is gone - probably going to have fair amount of repair even after snow is dealt with.

[spook]

is there a better vid of the flyover somewhere? i couldn't see shit in that first one.

[spook]

http://hatcherpassavalanchecenter.or...lanche-photos/

lots of good scary pictures

[wendigo]

Complete mess - video is flying in from the North heading toward Valdez.

[Hugh Conway]

wonder if they had second thoughts on the chopper ride:
http://www.adn.com/2014/01/27/329367...trying-to.html
Troopers: 2 arrested trying to walk to Valdez through avalanche zone

[east or bust]

Any word on if any part of the dam has breached yet?

This picture looks like it was getting close to spilling over.

[AlderBash]

These images are nuts.

Z- we didn't get nearly as much moisture in SE, but what we did get went high and was warm.

Was on the Haines Pass this weekend skiing on rain crust 1500' up Nadahini...

[cat in january]

That video sure looks bad. Hope all are safe.

[Mofro261]

crying won't help you
praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks
mama, you got to move

[spook]

crying won't help you
praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks
mama, you got to move

i almost posted the video this morning.