Turnagain Pass

Good morning backcountry travelers this is Kevin Wright with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center on Tuesday, November 30th at 7am. This will serve as 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).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Turnagain Pass and Johnson Pass North Trailhead motorized areas are open for snowmachine use. Adequate snow is present to prevent resource damage. These areas consist of the lands on the west side of the Seward Highway between the Turnagain Arm and Sixmile Creek and the drainage southwest of Bench Creek adjacent to the Johnson Pass North Trailhead south to Bench Lake. Center and Divide Creek drainages are closed to snowmachine use. All CNFAIC Staff areas of the Chugach NF are closed to motorized use until December 1st or until adequate snow falls to prevent resource damage.

WEATHER ROUNDUP

-Wind was blowing hard in some areas yesterday, with obvious snow transport.

-Temperatures generally increased slightly but remain well below freezing.

AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

Today the avalanche hazard will remain at MODERATE. Areas without the wind loaded pockets will have a LOW rating. Expect heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features.

This is a great time to develop your snow sense by paying attention to the depth of snow on top of the crust. Try to identify the areas where wind loading has occurred and probe the snow with your pole as you approach ridges. We expect isolated wind slabs near the ridge tops that may be sensitive to human trigger.

The weather stations recorded highly variable patterns of wind yesterday, but wind plumes were widespread off the ridges last night. All this recent light dry snow is being redistributed by the wind. Be careful of the wind slabs, especially above committing terrain with high consequence.

We are still in an active glide avalanche cycle that has been going on for the past 3 weeks. Be aware of your travel routes and try to avoid spending time below the gaping cracks. One new glide avalanche was spotted yesterday on Seattle ridge.

I will issue the next 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. Thanks and have a great day.

The NWS weather forecast for:

WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

INCLUDING…WHITTIER…SEWARD…GIRDWOOD…MOOSE PASS

500 AM AKST TUE NOV 30 2010

…STRONG WIND THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON NEAR SEWARD AND

WHITTIER…

.TODAY…SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 20 INLAND AND IN THE 20S ALONG THE

COAST. NORTH TO WEST WIND 10 TO 25 MPH BECOMING LIGHT IN THE

AFTERNOON. NEAR SEWARD…NORTH GUSTS TO 45 MPH DECREASING TO

30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. NEAR WHITTIER…WEST GUSTS TO 55 MPH

DECREASING TO 40 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

.TONIGHT…CLEAR. LOWS ZERO TO 10 BELOW INLAND AND ZERO

TO 15 ABOVE ALONG THE COAST. NORTH TO WEST WIND TO 15 MPH.

GUSTS TO 35 MPH NEAR SEWARD AND WHITTIER IN THE EVENING.

.WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS 10 TO 25 ABOVE…COLDEST INLAND.

VARIABLE WIND TO 10 MPH.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…CLEAR. LOWS 10 BELOW TO 5 ABOVE INLAND

AND 10 TO TO 20 ABOVE ALONG THE COAST. LIGHT WINDS.

.THURSDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE TEENS INLAND AND

IN THE 20S ALONG THE COAST. LIGHT WINDS.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW.

LOWS 15 TO 25.

.FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY…CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW.

HIGHS 25 TO 35. LOWS IN THE 20S.

.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW.

LOWS IN THE TEENS. HIGHS IN THE 20S.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE TEENS.

HIGHS IN THE 20S.

TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION

SEWARD 24 11 25 / 0 0 0

GIRDWOOD 13 4 16 / 0 0 0

WEATHER STATION SUMMARY for Turnagain Pass:

-3800 Sunburst Wx Station-

Had light northwest wind yesterday. Temperatures rose from 3 to the current 10 degrees.

-2600 Seattle Ridge Wx Station-

Recorded light NNW wind, averaging 4-15mph. Temperatures rose slightly to the mid teens.

-1800 Center Ridge Wx Station-

Recorded no new snow in the last 24 hours. Temperatures increased slightly to the mid teens.