Tue, February 09, 2021 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Tue, February 9th, 2021

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Moderate (2)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Moderate (2)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Low (1)

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

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Recent Avalanches

Summit Lake: We saw multiple recent small human-triggered avalanches at Colorado yesterday, including one that we triggered with a ski cut. These were 6-10” deep, about 50’ wide, and ran anywhere from 20-100’ downslope. More details here.

6-10″ crown of a skier-triggered wind slab avalanche in the Summit Lake area. 02.08.2021

Avalanche Problem 1

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

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

It is still possible to trigger an avalanche up to 1-2’ deep where a stiff slab of snow is capping a persistent weak layer of buried surface hoar and/or near-surface facets. Persistent problems are tricky since they will sometimes, but not always, give you warning signs when they are present. Whenever this snowpack is giving you clear feedback like shooting cracks (see photo below) or collapsing, it is time to dial down your terrain use and stick to low-angle slopes. In the absence of these clear warning signs, look for other clues like previous wind-loading patterns. Do you see a smooth pillow of snow adjacent to a scoured slope? Are you noticing a hollow, punchy slab at the snow surface? These are indicators of previous wind loading, and today it will still be possible to trigger an avalanche where this kind of slab is present. We know the buried weak layers are present on most slopes in our area. They key to safe travel today is recognizing and avoiding steep slopes where there is a stiff slab of snow on top of these persistent weak layers.

Winds are expected to pick up later in the day, with increasing cloud cover as the upper-level winds shift directions. Pay attention to fresh wind slabs forming with the stronger winds, as they will be sensitive to human triggers, and they have the potential to make larger avalanches where snow is getting loaded on top of pre-existing wind slabs.

Loose Snow Avalanches (Sluffs): The surface snow is dry and loose in areas that have been sheltered from the wind. Be aware of fast-moving and high-volume sluffs in steep terrain, which can have serious consequences if they carry you into terrain traps like cliffs, rocks, trees, or gullies.

Cornices: Large cornices are peeling away from ridgelines, opening up large cracks and becoming especially sensitive. If you are traveling along ridgelines be sure to give them plenty of space, and minimize the amount of time you spend traveling below them.

Shooting crack on a wind pillow on Colorado Ridge. 02.08.2021

Valley fog in Turnagain Pass. Photo: Graham Predeger. 02.08.2021

Additional Concern

Glide Avalanches

Glide Avalanches

Glide Avalanches are the release of the entire snow cover as a result of gliding over the ground. Glide avalanches can be composed of wet, moist, or almost entirely dry snow. They typically occur in very specific paths, where the slope is steep enough and the ground surface is relatively smooth. They are often proceeded by full depth cracks (glide cracks), though the time between the appearance of a crack and an avalanche can vary between seconds and months. Glide avalanches are unlikely to be triggered by a person, are nearly impossible to forecast, and thus pose a hazard that is extremely difficult to manage.

More info at Avalanche.org

Glide cracks have opened up throughout the area. These avalanches are unpredictable and they are large since they involve the entire season’s snowpack. Avoid spending any time on or below slopes with glide cracks, as they can release unexpectedly. If you see any new glide activity, please let us know here.

Weather

Tue, February 9th, 2021

Yesterday: A strong temperature inversion kept temperatures down in the single digits to low teens F at lower elevations, with highs in the mid teens to mid 20’s F at upper elevations. The inversion kept a thick layer of valley fog in place, which reached up to around 1800’, and was thick enough to bring a trace of snow to Girdwood. Skies were clear above the fog. Winds were calm to light, blowing 0-10 mph at ridgetops with variable directions.

Today: A change in weather pattern is on the way today, with increasing cloud cover and easterly winds picking up to 15-20 mph this afternoon. High temperatures are expected to reach the mid- to upper teens F, and no precipitation is expected during the day.

Tomorrow: Easterly winds continue to increase tonight, with sustained speeds around 30 mph and gusts approaching 40 mph by tomorrow morning. Temperatures are expected to dip down into the low teens F tonight, with highs expected in the upper teens to mid- 20’s F tomorrow. We are expecting to see some snow tonight and tomorrow, with 1-5” expected by the end of the day.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	4	116
Summit Lake (1400′)	-4	42
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	6	106

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	10	SW	6	18
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	10	NE	2	6

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.