Turnagain Pass

Good morning backcountry travelers this is Kevin Wright with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center on Wednesday, December 1st 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 has died down in the region, although the forecast is calling for strong wind in Whittier this morning.

-It is cold out there! Temperatures dropped 5-10 degrees since yesterday.

AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

Today the avalanche hazard will be LOW. Areas with wind loaded pockets will have a MODERATE rating. Expect heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features.

One of our observers reported stable results from a test pit yesterday. This is consistent with what we have been seeing recently. It still does not drop our concern about the wind slab on top of the crust. Light, dry snow, strong wind, and a slick rain crust are all ingredients for unstable slabby conditions. Keep a look out for the wind slab near the ridges and be especially careful above high consequence terrain.

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. A new glide avalanche was spotted Monday on Seattle ridge.

Matt 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 WED DEC 1 2010

…STRONG WIND THIS MORNING NEAR WHITTIER…

.TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS RANGING FROM THE TEENS INLAND TO

LOWER 20S ALONG THE COAST. NORTH TO WEST WIND TO 15 MPH. IN THE

MORNING…NORTH GUSTS TO 30 MPH NEAR SEWARD AND WEST GUSTS TO

45 MPH NEAR WHITTIER.

.TONIGHT…CLEAR IN THE EVENING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY.

LOWS 5 BELOW TO 5 ABOVE INLAND AND IN THE TEENS ALONG THE COAST.

LIGHT WINDS EXCEPT NORTH WIND TO 15 MPH NEAR SEWARD.

.THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS.

HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S TO LOWER 30S…COLDEST INLAND. LIGHT WINDS

EXCEPT NORTH WIND TO 15 MPH NEAR SEWARD.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 5 TO 15 ABOVE INLAND AND

15 TO 25 ALONG THE COAST. LIGHT WINDS BECOMING SOUTH TO EAST

10 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.FRIDAY…SNOW. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. SOUTH TO EAST

WIND INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH. THROUGH PORTAGE VALLEY AND

TURNAGAIN ARM…EAST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH INCREASING TO 30 TO 45 MPH

IN THE AFTERNOON.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS IN

THE 20S.

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

HIGHS 25 TO 35. LOWS IN THE 20S.

.SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW.

HIGHS 25 TO 35. LOWS 15 TO 25.

TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION

SEWARD 24 16 29 / 0 0 20

GIRDWOOD 14 4 20 / 0 0 20

WEATHER STATION SUMMARY for Turnagain Pass:

-3800 Sunburst Wx Station-

Wind died down, and temperatures dropped slightly.

-2600 Seattle Ridge Wx Station-

Temperatures dropped about 5 degrees. Wind dropped to the single digits.

-1800 Center Ridge Wx Station-

No new snow. Settling has brought the total snow down anCNFAIC Staff inch. Temperatures dropped 10 degrees.