Turnagain Pass

Good morning. This is Kevin Wright with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center on Friday, January 6th 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).

BOTTOM LINE

The avalanche danger is MODERATE today. We got a healthy refresh of new snow yesterday with up to 1 foot of snow in some areas. The danger rating will stay elevated today because of some uncertainty in how the dry snow with some wind is behaving. I expect generally low hazard below treeline and in sheltered areas. Above treeline, tender windslab and loose snow avalanches are possible.

AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

The thousand-dollar question today is, “How much snow and how much wind did we get yesterday?” Most of our region received a modest 6-8 inches of light dry powder. We measured up to 12 inches around the Portage highway, and over in Valdez and Cordova the snowfall is being measured in feet.

The avalanche problem should continue to be mild and predictable today. Watch for stiffer pockets where the wind has blown the new surface snow. Higher elevations, rollovers, and ridge transitions are the most likely areas to find surface instability. Avalanche size potential will be small and limited to the new snow only.

I’m expecting that most of our forecast area simply got improved riding conditions. With that being said, we have limited information on how the new snow is reacting, so approach the fresh snow with some stability questions in mind until you know what sort of danger exists.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Snowfall yesterday was 6-8 inches in most areas and 1/2 inch of water equivalent covered our region. Wind was reaching into the 30s and 40s during the beginning of the storm, but it gradually decreased during the day. Temperatures rose into the 20s mid day yesterday and dropped back into single digits overnight.

Expect mostly sunny skies this afternoon. Temperatures may rise into the teens, and wind will remain light with local gusts to the high 20s at upper elevations. Significant snow is back in the forecast for the weekend, stay tuned for more information on the approaching storm.

CNFAIC Weather Page and the NWS forecast

I will issue the next advisory Saturday morning. If you get out in the backcountry we want to know what you are seeing. Please send us your observations using the button at the top of this page or give us a call at 754-2369. Thanks and have a great day.