Turnagain Pass
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Good morning backcountry travelers this is Carl Skustad with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center on Thursday, December 24 at 7 am. This will serve as a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area (advisory does not apply to highways, railroads, or operating ski areas).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The beacon park is open at the Alyeska Resort. It’s located opposite the Hotel Alyeska at the tram loop. It’s a great place to practice your beacon rescue skills.
WEATHER ROUNDUP
In the last 24 hours, 6-8 inches of snow fell in Girdwood, 10 inches in Turnagain Pass, and 4 inches in Summit Lake. Approximate 3 day storm totals for Girdwood are 12-15 inches, Turnagain Pass 19 inches, and Summit Lake 9. These amounts are above the snowline. The snowline has fluctuated from sea level to 1200 ft. Almost all precip has been rain from sea level to 800 feet.
-The Center Ridge Wx Station at 1800 feet/Turnagain Pass-
recorded 10 inches of new snow and 1.1 inches of water in the last 24 hours. The current temp is 30.6F (2 degrees warmer than yesterday) with a total snowpack depth of 68 inches. 3 inches of settlement.
-The Sunburst Wx Station at 3800 feet/Turnagain Pass-
is showing 18 mph winds out of the ESE, with gusts of 30 mph. Very high sustained averages and gusts to 74 in the last 24 hours. The current temperature is 24 deg F
-The Summit Lake Wx Station at 1200 feet-
recorded 4inches of new snow and 0.3 inches of water in the last 24 hours. The current temp is 32F ( 3 degrees warmer than yesterday) with a total snowpack depth of 33 inches.
-The Fresno Ridge Wx Station at 3400 feet/Summit Lake-
recorded is showing 22 mph winds with gust of 29 mph out of the SE. Very high averages and gusts to 56 in the last 24
A very strong 962 mb low is located in the gulf spinning shortwave precipitation at us. The jet stream is cruising around the northern hemisphere like a good little jet stream then bam, it hits this low and turns directly north into mainland AK. Heavy cloud cover and mixed precip on the radar and satellite.
The weather forecast for:
WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING…WHITTIER…SEWARD…GIRDWOOD…MOOSE PASS
.500 AM AKST THU DEC 24 2009
.TODAY…RAIN ALONG THE COAST AND RAIN AND SNOW OVER HIGHER
ELEVATIONS. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 INCHES OVER HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S. NORTH TO EAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH
EXCEPT SOUTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND TURNAGAIN
ARM.
.TONIGHT…RAIN AND SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER HIGHER
ELEVATIONS. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO UPPER 30S. NORTH TO EAST WIND 10
TO 20 MPH EXCEPT SOUTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND
TURNAGAIN ARM.
.CHRISTMAS DAY…RAIN AND SNOW LIKELY. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO
1 INCH. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S TO LOWER 40S. NORTH TO EAST WIND 10 TO
20 MPH EXCEPT SOUTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND
TURNAGAIN ARM.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S TO
MID 30S. NORTH TO EAST WIND TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY…SNOW AND RAIN LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S TO UPPER
30S. EAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
SEWARD 40 34 38 / 80 80 60
GIRDWOOD 41 37 41 / 80 60 60
AVALANCHE DISCUSSION
It’s hard to say if the current cycle of precip and avalanche activity has peaked yet. I believe it did late yesterday. However, with too much uncertainty the avalanche hazard will elevate one click today. Today’s avalanche hazard is HIGH on steep terrain. Natural avalanches are likely today and human avalanches are very likely on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. All CNFAIC Staff areas have CONSIDERABLE avalanche hazard. Considerable means natural avalanches possible and human triggered avalanches likely.
We actually saw the above-mentioned hazards come to fruition yesterday afternoon. Jon and I climbing out of the rain and into heavy snow and wind on Tincan mountain. Talking with CNFAIC Staff skiers and building observations of our own is the basis for today’s increased hazard. Natural and human triggered avalanches were common on most role overs steeper than 35 degrees. Large spread collapsing was reported. CNFAIC Staff professional reports from the Girdwood Valley indicated similar conditions. The avalanches mentioned failed on the 24 hour old snow interface, 6-8 inches deep, (CTE 4 14cm x2, CTM 14 35cm x2). I’m not convinced that this thinner slab won’t step down to the buried surface hoar in some instances. If this were the case large avalanches would occur. We had limited visibility and could not see upper elevations; however, winds have been ripping and starting zones are loaded.
I will issue the Christmas advisory tomorrow morning at 7am. If you get out in the backcountry give us a call at 754-2369 or send us your observations using the button at the top of this page
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Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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