Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Triggering a large avalanche breaking on buried weak layer 1-3′ deep in the snowpack remains possible today. Watch out for sluffing in steep terrain. Choose slopes carefully with the consequences of an avalanche in mind. Use good travel protocol, give cornices a wide berth and limit time under glide cracks.
If you are heading to Hatcher Pass today please check hpavalanche.org. The Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center and the Hatcher Pass Snow Riders Club are hosting a free avalanche workshop next Saturday at 11 am at the Mint parking lot. Check out our events page for more information.
Heads up if traveling in Summit Lake just south of Turnagain Pass. We received a report of a large human triggered avalanche on Fresno Peak in Summit Lake yesterday. We are currently gathering more information about it. Observers on Friday found the Solstice layer of buried surface hoar on Colorado Peak just south of Fresno.
Friday three avalanches were triggered in Main Bowl. All are suspected to have failed on the Solstice buried surface hoar layer. The avalanche pictured below was large enough to injure/bury a person.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
Although many people are skiing and riding steep terrain without incident, the possibility of triggering a large avalanche remains due to buried weak layer. Surface hoar and faceted snow that formed just before the Solstice is now buried 1-3′ deep and has proven reactive in the 3 snowmachine triggered avalanches in Main Bowl Friday and in some snow pits across the region. This is also the suspected weak layer in the reported human triggered avalanche in Summit Lake yesterday. This is out of the advisory area but is a popular spot to recreate and the snowpack is generally shallower. Conditions often can be very similar in Lynx Creek and around the Silvertip, Twin Peaks zone. This lingering possibility of triggering a large avalanche should be part of how you plan your day in the mountains. Ease into steeper terrain, think about slopes as avalanche paths and imagine where the snow would end up if it did slide. The consequences of being deeply buried in a terrain trap should be a consideration. There is a supportable crust from the New Years Day rain up to 2300′-2500′. Triggering an avalanche is possible where the crust is very thin and then up in elevation from there. There is very stiff snow (slab) over the buried weak layer and that is covered by the soft snow from New Years. Signs of instability will mostly likely not be present at this point and it might not be the first person on the slope that triggers the avalanche. There were previous tracks on the slope in two of the Main Bowl avalanches Friday.
Signal Word | Size (D scale) | Simple Descriptor |
Small | 1 | Unlikely to bury a person |
Large | 2 | Can bury a person |
Very Large | 3 | Can destroy a house |
Historic | 4 & 5 | Can destroy part or all of a village |
Low density surface snow in steep terrain has the potential to be a loose snow avalanche a.k.a sluff. It’s important to think about sluff management as you choose your descent. Be mindful of consequences if you were to get knocked off your feet by a fast moving sluff in steep terrain.
Glide cracks: Glide cracks continue to open with the cold temperatures which is another interesting factor with this unpredictable hazard. Limit time spent underneath glide cracks as they could release into a dangerous glide avalanche at any time.
Cornices: Cornices can break farther back than expected. Avoid travel on them and limit your exposure when passing beneath.
Yesterday: Skies were partly cloudy with some patchy valley fog. Temperatures were in the single digits to below 0°F. Winds were light and variable. Overnight temperatures were generally below zero with a few stations dropping to the negative teens.
Today: Mostly sunny which some scattered clouds and patchy valley fog. Temperatures will be in the single digits. Winds will kick up slightly from the north, averaging 5-10 mph gusting into the teens. Overnight skies will be partly cloudy and temperatures will rise a few degrees as the clouds move in.
Tomorrow: Mostly to partly cloudy skies and a chance of scattered showers. Highs will be in the teens and upper single digits and winds will be northerly. Mostly sunny skies are back on tap for Tuesday and Wednesday.
PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Center Ridge (1880′) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | -7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sunburst (3812′) | 2 | W | 4 | 17 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 0 | N | 2 | 12 |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
05/22/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Nick D'Alessio |
05/12/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan, Sunburst, Magnum, Cornbiscuit | Heather Thamm |
05/07/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Bear Tracks | CNFAIC Staff |
05/05/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seattle Ridge | AS/ WW Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | Schauer/ Sturgess Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seward Hwy Turnagain Pass | Joel Curtis |
04/30/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Magnum | Ayla, Kit Crosby, Barton |
04/29/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | John Sykes |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Taylor Pass/Pastoral | Schauer/ Creighton Forecaster |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Andy Moderow |
Status of riding areas across the Chugach NF is managed by the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts, not avalanche center staff. Riding area information is posted as a public service to our users and updated based on snow depth and snow density to prevent resource damage at trailhead locations. Riding area questions contact: mailroom_r10_chugach@fs.fed.us
Area | Status | Weather & Riding Conditions |
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Glacier District |
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This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area. This advisory does not apply to highways, railroads or operating ski areas.