Mon, February 03, 2020 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Mon, February 3rd, 2020

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Considerable (3)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Considerable (3)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Moderate (2)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Considerable (3)
Treeline 1,000'-2,500'		Considerable (3)
Below Treeline Below 1,000'		Moderate (2)

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Avalanche Problem 1

Wind Slabs
Almost Certain

Very Likely

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Likelihood
Historic (D4-5)

Very Large (D3)

Large (D2)

Small (D1)

Size

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Likelihood of Avalanches

Terms such as "unlikely", "likely", and "certain" are used to define the scale, with the chance of triggering or observing avalanches increasing as we move up the scale. For our purposes, "Unlikely" means that few avalanches could be triggered in avalanche terrain and natural avalanches are not expected. "Certain" means that humans will be able to trigger avalanches on many slopes, and natural avalanches are expected.

Size of Avalanches

Avalanche size is defined by the largest potential avalanche, or expected range of sizes related to the problem in question. Assigned size is a qualitative estimate based on the destructive classification system and requires specialists to estimate the harm avalanches may cause to hypothetical objects located in the avalanche track (AAA 2016, CAA 2014). Under this schema, "Small" avalanches are not large enough to bury humans and are relatively harmless unless they carry people over cliffs or through trees or rocks. Moving up the scale, avalanches become "Large" enough to bury, injure, or kill people. "Very Large" avalanches may bury or destroy vehicles or houses, and "Historic" avalanches are massive events capable of altering the landscape.

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

More info at Avalanche.org

There were a few skier triggered wind slab avalanches on Saturday during the sustained northwest outflow winds. Observers reported cracking, collapsing and easy to trigger test slopes. The winds shifted to the east yesterday blowing 10-20 mph gusting into the 40s and are forecast to continue today. The winds are strong enough to keep moving snow. Triggering a wind slab in steep leeward terrain remains likely. Because the winds flip-flopped direction determining what slopes are freshly loaded might be tricky. Be suspect of stiff snow over soft snow, hollow sounding snow and watch for cracking. Triggering a wind slab may also add weight to the snowpack and overload buried weak layers resulting in a deeper and more dangerous avalanche (Problem 2).

Cornices: Blowing snow builds cornices which could be touchy and on both sides of the ridgelines due to the shifting winds. Remember these may break farther back than expected.

Small skier triggered wind slab that likely occurred on Saturday, 2.1.20. Photo from 2.2.20.

An upper layer of stiff surface snow showing wind slab over softer snow in a snow pit on Eddies at 1800′, 2.2.20.

Avalanche Problem 2

Persistent Slabs
Almost Certain

Very Likely

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Likelihood
Historic (D4-5)

Very Large (D3)

Large (D2)

Small (D1)

Size

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Likelihood of Avalanches

Size of Avalanches

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

More info at Avalanche.org

Triggering a large, dangerous slab avalanche is possible today. Conservative terrain choices are essential. As you pick slopes to travel on, think about the consequences of a large avalanche being initiated. Where would you end up? If you have been following the forecast you know we have been talking a lot about slabs forming over weak snow. This weak snow is from the cold clear weather that dominated for most of January. A series of storms and wind events have now buried this weak snow (buried surface hoar and facets) 2-3+ feet deep. A natural avalanche cycle occurred on January 29th with some large avalanches occurring that we believe failed on this weak snow. Over the weekend there were couple of smaller skier triggered avalanches that may also have failed on this. One was confirmed to have slid on the buried surface hoar/facets. The winds keep adding weight to the snow above and temperatures have increased significantly in the last 24 hrs. Valley temperatures in Portage went from -15°F to 30°F and Center Ridge (1880′) temperatures went from 7°F to 25°F. This temperature change will increase settlement and could make the upper layers of the snowpack more cohesive/slabby. Our worry is that the more the slab develops over the weak layers, the larger and more connected the avalanches will be. We know the weak layers are down there lurking. Snowpack tests yesterday illustrated that is might be harder to trigger an avalanche but that may change with the slab character increasing. Is the slab now just waiting for a trigger today? This type of avalanche may allow more than one person on skis or a snowmachine to travel on the slope before it releases.

Skier triggered avalanche that we believe occurred on Saturday 2.1.20 on Eddies. Photo taken on 2.2..20. This avalanche failed on the buried surface hoar/facet layer.

Buried surface hoar intact over small facets in the crown investigation of the Eddies avalanche that failed on the buried weak layers. 2.2.20.

Slab over the buried surface hoar and facets. Eddies. 2.2.20

Weather

Mon, February 3rd, 2020

Yesterday: Cloudy skies with light snow starting mid-day. Winds were easterly 10-20 mph gusting into the 50s. Temperatures went from below zero/single digits to mid 20Fs. Snow showers and gusty winds continued overnight.

Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Winds will remain elevated and easterly 10-20 mph gusting into the 40s in the morning and eventually decrease overnight. Temperatures will be in the mid to high 20Fs. Snow is forecast to increase a bit overnight with a couple of inches possible.

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with light snow showers in the morning tapering off in the afternoon. Winds will be light and westerly and temperatures will remain in the 20Fs. Anther shot of light snow overnight and an active pattern continuing through the week.

PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	15	1-2	0.2	58
Summit Lake (1400′)	10	1-2	0.2	20
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	13	4	0.17	56

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	8	NE	13	52
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	11	SE	13	31

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

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

Riding Areas

Updated Thu, June 01st, 2023

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
Glacier District
Johnson Pass	Closed	Closed May 15.
Placer River	Closed	Closed May 15.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Will close to motorized use on April 1, 2023 per the National Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Will close on June 1.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Extended opening until May 15.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled closure May 1.