Wed, December 07, 2022 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Wed, December 7th, 2022

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)

Recent Avalanches

There were likely small avalanches last night associated with the new snow. Otherwise, the last known avalanches were small natural wind slabs from 11 days ago.

Avalanche Problem 1

Wind Slabs
N E S W NW NE SE SW

Aspect/Elevation
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.

Aspect/Elevation of the Avalanche Problem

Specialists develop a graphic representation of the potential distribution of a particular avalanche problem across the topography. This aspect/elevation rose is used to indicate where the particular avalanche problem is thought to exist on all elevation aspects. Areas where the avalanche problem is thought to exist are colored grey, and it is less likely to be encountered in areas colored white.

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

After a welcome overnight snowfall, to sea level, the northwest outflow winds should waste no time in moving the new snow around, especially in the higher elevations. For snowfall totals, as of 6am this morning, up to a foot has fallen in the upper Girdwood Valley and 6-8″ at Turnagain Pass and Summit Lake. Avalanche concerns will be directly related to the amount of new snow and windloading today.

In general, the new snow is not likely to bond very quickly with the old surfaces; from faceted loose snow to harder old wind blown snow. The new snow is light and in areas with only 6″ the avalanche conditions will be less than areas seeing up to a foot. The key for today will be to 1) watch for how much new snow has fallen and 2) look for active windloading that is creating fresh wind slabs.

Wind Slabs: Any slope with wind loading today will be worth avoiding. Wind slabs could be anywhere from 1-2′ thick and should be easy to trigger. The outflow winds funnel in all directions at Turnagain Pass, so our best bet is to simply watch where the wind is transporting snow, feel for stiffer snow over softer snow, and note any cracks that shoot out from us.

Storm Slabs: In sheltered areas with up to 10″ of new snow or more, soft slab avalanches breaking at the new/old snow interface are possible. The new snow may be too light to create a slab without wind effect, but this is something to look for in areas with up to a foot of new snow.

Loose Snow Avalanches – Sluffs: Triggering a sluff should be fairly easy on the steeper slopes. There will likely be evidence of natural sluffs from overnight seen today.

Quick hand pits to check the amount of new snow, any stiffening from the winds, and looking for easy failures at the new/old interface will good ways to assess today’s issues. The good news is the problems are at the top of the snowpack, making them much easier to identify.

Snowpack structure at 2,600′ on the backside of Seattle Ridge yesterday, 12.6.22. Roughly 6-8″ of new light snow sits on top of this pit as of this morning.

Weather

Wed, December 7th, 2022

Yesterday: Cloudy skies and light snowfall (to sea level) was over the region. Overnight precipitation increased and this morning Girdwood Valley has received 10-12″, while Turnagain Pass and Summit Lake saw 6-8″. Ridgetop winds were easterly, 10-15mph, until last night when they shifted to be light from the northwest.

Today: A few light snow flurries could add another 1-2″ of snow this morning before tapering off midday. Skies should also begin to clear midday. The northwest ridgetop winds are forecast to blow in the 20-30mph range with gusts in the 40’s. Temperatures look to remain in the 20’sF at the mid elevations and the teens in the Alpine.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny skies are expected tomorrow. The strong NW winds look to remain through tomorrow. For Friday and Saturday, mostly clear skies are forecast with light NW winds.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	30	5	0.5	28
Summit Lake (1400′)	29	4	0.5	20
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	30	10	0.9	30
Bear Valley (132′)	33	8	0.75	N/A

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	21	NE	9	18
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	25	SE	8	18

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 Sat, September 23rd, 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	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Placer River	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Scheduled opening on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving per Chugach National Forest plan. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Twentymile	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Summit Lake	Closed	Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.