Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast RSS

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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Sat, February 16th, 2013 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sun, February 17th, 2013 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Kevin Wright
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

Colder temperatures and calm weather are trending the snowpack toward good stability.   Some problems still exist however, illustrated by large explosive triggered avalanches at the Seward Highway yesterday.   Above treeline a MODERATE danger exists for recent storm slab resting on various weak interfaces.  

Today looks like it will be a stellar day in the backcountry.   We are still within 24 hours of the end of the last storm, meaning that the snowpack is still adjusting to that load.   Some degree of terrain management and avoidance of high consequence steep terrain is advisable.  

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Sat, February 16th, 2013
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Moderate (2)
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Low (1)
Avalanche risk
Alpine
Above 2,500'		 Avalanche risk
Moderate (2)
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'		 Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'		 Avalanche risk
Low (1)
Danger Scale:
No Rating (0)
Low (1)
Moderate (2)
Considerable (3)
High (4)
Extreme (5)
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Storm Slabs
    Storm Slabs
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
More info at Avalanche.org

The storm ended yesterday, and left a blanket of fresh snow across all elevations and aspects of the mountains.  This is good news for backcountry quality, but makes it difficult to identify the areas of greatest concern.  Wind during the storm was trending from the east, so westerly aspects may be harboring wind pockets and larger cornices. 

A big piece of information came in yesterday from Seward highway/AKRR crews when they triggered a large avalanche near Kern creek.  The avalanche below was larger than anything we’ve seen in quite some time.  This begs the question – Is it still possible for a person to trigger a larger avalanche today?  It seems unlikely, but perhaps not impossible.  We think that areas closer to Girdwood may be somewhat less stable than Turnagain Pass.  This is due to greater snowfall in the recent storm cycles, and a more prominent crust/weak layer combination that has shown it can cause big avalanches.

Other storm related issues to think about –

1.  Wind loading up high – few people have ventured above 2500 feet in the last week due to poor visibility and stormy weather.  Watch for wind slabs in steep terrain.  This is a wild card, for which we currently don’t have a lot of information.

2.  Cornices – are likely to be large and unstable.  We found very small cornices to be easily triggered on Thursday.

3.  Loose sluffs – Steep terrain may have enough loose powder to entrain and pick up volume.

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Persistent Slabs
    Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
More info at Avalanche.org

In Turnagain Pass, we have seen occasional pits that indicate avalanche propagation is possible on a melt/freeze crust that typically varies from 1-3 feet in depth.  This problem is not evident everywhere…  The most reactive elevation seems to be between ~1900 and ~2900 feet.  It has shown itself to be worse in Girdwood than Turnagain Pass.

The video in this link illustrates the nature of the crust problem.  It isn’t easy to initiate, but when it does it may propagate into deeper layers.

Weather
Sat, February 16th, 2013

The last burst of snowfall which ended yesterday was the highest daily snowfall we’ve had in a month at Turnagain Pass.   Over the last week the snow has been piling up, slowly but surely.   Above treeline elevation is more than a foot of new snow in the last 48 hours with closer to 3 feet in the last week.   The storm had some strong wind over the last few days, which diminished Thursday evening before the snowfall ended.   Temperatures also dropped as the storm ended, placing light density, unconsolidated snow (powder) at the surface.   Currently temperatures are in the teens at low elevations and single digits at higher elevations.

Today, mostly sunny skies are expected.   Wind is moderate currently but will become light by late morning.   Snow and wind is back in the forecast tonight, leaving a short window of good weather for today.

Wendy will issue the next advisory on Sunday morning 2-17.

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Riding Areas
Updated Tue, April 20th, 2021

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
Johnson Pass
Open
No parking in turnaround at end of the road near the outhouse.
Placer River
Open
Please do not ride along Railroad tracks. Cross tracks at 90 degree angle and clear the right of way.
Skookum Drainage
Closed
The Skookum Valley is closed to snowmachines. This closure occurs annually on April 1 as per the CNF Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass
Open
Twentymile
Closed
Seward District
Carter Lake
Open
Lost Lake Trail
Open
Primrose Trail
Open
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Closed for the 2020/21 winter season.
Snug Harbor
Open
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Open
Summit Lake
Open

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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.

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