Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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The avalanche danger remains MODERATE. Finding and triggering a wind slab avalanche, around a foot thick, remains possible. These could be older wind slabs or new ones in areas seeing enough wind to transport snow today. They also may break wider than anticipated as some could be sitting on buried surface hoar. Additionally, there is still a chance a person could trigger a large slab avalanche that breaks in weak snow 3-6′ deep.
SUMMIT LAKE TO SEWARD REGION: Strong wind last week impacted Summit Lake and Lost Lake, which resulted in several natural avalanches. Triggering a lingering wind slab is still possible and continued caution is advised on wind affected slopes.
Heading to Hatcher Pass or Chugach State Park? New snow is headed this way over the weekend and be sure to check out the recent avalanche observations. Also don’t forget to check the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center Saturday forecast!
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 |
Cloudy skies have moved in over the region, brought temperatures up to a more habitable 20-25°F and even a few snow flurries have fallen this morning. With a relatively weak weather system moving through this weekend, it looks as though our forecast zone will see an inch or so of snow today, 2″ tonight and up to an additional 4″ by tomorrow. This is a pretty meager ‘re-fresh’ and that said, it will be old and new wind slabs that will be our main avalanche concerns.
Lingering wind slabs from last week’s outflow wind event may still be possible to trigger. These wind slabs could propagate further than expected and could also step down into buried weak layers. This was the case with the Lynx Creek avalanche that occurred Thursday. In case you missed it, those details are HERE. These older wind slabs could be sitting on buried surface hoar, making them take longer to bond and why they could break out wider than one might think.
Fresh wind slabs are also something to look for today in upper elevation terrain. Ridgetop winds may reach averages of 20mph from the east. This will be enough to transport loose snow and load slopes, if the loose snow is available. If you are headed out today, watch for wind textured surfaces, hollow feeling snow and stiffer snow over softer snow. These are all signs of a wind slab. These slabs are likely to be around a foot thick. Quick hand pits are also good ways to suss out a wind slab. If you find one in your hand pit, look close, you may see some buried surface hoar feathers under it.
Wind textured surfaces along the Southeast face of Seattle Ridge at Turnagain Pass on Thursday. 3.5.20.
Wind loaded slopes on Colorado Peak in the Summit Lake area along with a very wide propagating natural slab avalanche lower on the slope. This also occurred also on Thursday. 3.5.20. Photo: Alex McLain
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 |
It is still important to remember that weak faceted snow from January sits 3 to 6 feet deep in the snowpack. The wind slab triggered in Lynx Creek two days ago was a larger avalanche because it ‘stepped down’ into these old weak layers. Not only can this happen again, but it is possible a person triggers the deep layer from the start. As we know, with time the likelihood of triggering a deep slab is decreasing, but we have too much proof to write this problem off. Keeping our terrain choices in line with the ‘what if I trigger a large slab’ question remains prudent.
Cornices: As always, avoid travel on or underneath cornices.
Loose snow avalanches: In areas that were protected from the wind, sluffs are possible in steep terrain.
Yesterday: Partly cloudy to overcast skies filled the region. Ridgetop winds were light to moderate from the east (5-15mph) with Sunburst gusting to 29mph yesterday morning. Temperatures rose into the 20’s°F at most locations from sea level to ridgetops.
Today: A weather system is moving in and brining cloudy skies and light snow showers to the forecast area. Only a trace to an inch of accumulation is expected today with 2″ of new snow possible tonight. Ridgetop winds are forecast to remain easterly and blowing in the 10-20mph range. Temperatures will remain in the 20°’F at all elevations.
Tomorrow: Snowfall will continue tomorrow with an additional 2-4″ and up to 6″ or more in favored area likely near the coast. Ridgetop winds are slated to increase to the 15-25mph range along with the peak of snowfall looking to occur mid-day. Temperatures look to say in the mid to upper 20’s°F with snow to sea level.
PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Center Ridge (1880′) | 21 | 0 | 0 | 71 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 18 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 20 | trace | trace | 80 |
RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sunburst (3812′) | 13 | NE | 9 | 29 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 17 | SE | 7 | 17 |
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.