Alaskan Avalanche Deposits 40-Foot Tall Debris Pile

Heavy snowfall caused a massive avalanche in Alaska’s Chugach that deposited an estimated 40-foot-deep debris pile, cutting off access to a neighborhood in the Anchorage suburbs. Evacuations were prompted for residents of the Hiland Road area in Eagle River after the debris pile covered an access road. The avalanche occurred late on Thursday March 27 and was described as a once-in-a-100-year event. Mitigation efforts were carried out afterwards to decrease the risk of another slide occurring while the snow is removed. With several feet of snow falling in the last few days, the Chugach Avalanche Center is issuing warnings about backcountry avalanches in the area, with the forecast at either Considerable or High at all elevations.