Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
|
![]() ![]() |
We are issuing advisories 5 days a week through November on Sat, Sun, Tue, Thur and Fri.
ANNOUNCEMENT
A reminder that all motorized use remains CLOSED due to thin snow cover. The Forest Service will open these areas as soon as possible when snow depth allows. Watch for status updates at the bottom of this advisory page.
BOTTOM LINE
A thin and weak snowpack continues to dominate our avalanche discussion. Reports of avalanche activity have dropped over the last week, but a poor snow structure still holds the possibility of causing avalanches. Wind in the weather forecast today could form the stiffer slabs that have been mostly absent over the last week and could contribute to a rising avalanche danger.
Clear and cold weather and total lack of recent precipitation is keeping the status quo in the backcountry. Our thin snowpack is made entirely of weak, poorly bonded crystals. Most of the time when we talk about weak snow like this it means big avalanche problems, but for the time being we are missing the crtitical component of a stiffer, stronger, and heavier slab on top of the weaker snow. Steeper slopes at higher elevations may still hold pockets of avalanche potential, however. The likelihood of trashing skis on rocks is a good limiting factor to keep in mind if you get a wild hair to start exploring onto steeper slopes.
All this clear weather is forming abundant surface hoar on top of all the faceted snow. It’s going to be game-on for dangerous avalanches when we finally get new snow on top of all this junky base.
Wind slab is not yet a problem as of this morning. The National Weather Service is calling for increasing strong north winds across the region starting today.
Remember, all we need is new stiffer snow on top of our current snowpack to complete the avalanche recipe. Strong wind could be enough to build pockets of avalanche potential.
Looks like another clear and cold day in paradise! A strong temperature inversion can be found this morning, with ridgetop temperatures in the 20s and valley temperatures below 0. Competing air masses, between a blocking High pressure across Alaska and a Low in the southern gulf of Alaska, will build strong pressure gradients across Southcentral Alaska and strong north wind. This wind is expected to stay into Saturday. The general pattern of a high pressure ridge in the Bering sea will persist into next week.
This is 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).
Wendy will issue the next advisory Friday morning, November 30th.
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | Brooke Edwards |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | W Wagner |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | John Sykes |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Lynx Creek | Megan Guinn / W Wagner |
01/25/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | John Sykes Forecaster |
01/22/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Schauer/ Guinn |
01/21/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | Elias Holt |
01/21/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Lynx drainage – avalanche | CNFAIC Staff |
01/21/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche/People Involved: Warm up bowl (-1 bowl) avalanche | Anonymous |
01/21/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Sunburst Ridge | Megan Guinn / W Wagner |
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 |
Subscribe to Turnagain Pass
Avalanche Forecast by Email
This is 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.