Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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The avalanche hazard is LOW above and below treeline. New snow amounts will be relatively light today. However, shallow pockets of new slab will form and be easy to trigger in steep upper elevation terrain. It is in these areas where the avalanche hazard will inch up to the MODERATE range very late in the day.
Small slabs will be easy to trigger by the end of our long day today (sunset will be at 9pm tonight). Snowfall will pick up later in the day. Prior to new snow falling it is always a good practice to know what the snow surface is comprised of. Yesterday south facing and low elevation slopes melted during the day and froze overnight. North facing slopes in the upper elevations were holding pockets of small surface hoar. As this “drought layer” gets buried it will need to adjust to the new snow falling onto it. Surface hoar will not allow new snow to bond to it very well. Neither will crusts. If the new snow comes in warm, as it is forecasted to do, bonding will be better. Shallow wind slabs will build by this evening in isolated pockets and are worth avoiding on steep north through west facing aspects.
While the snowpack is stable in many areas, there are a few things to consider today when making decisions.
Loose Snow Avalanches
Yesterday my partner and I found surface hoar on steep high elevation north facing slopes. This surface will prevent new snow from sticking to it well. Because of this, low volume sluffs will run fast and readily in this type of terrain. While the volume will be too low to be a problem on its own, things can change for the worse when these small avalanches occur while you’re above cliffbands, gullies or trees.
Cornices
While today is not a prime day for cornices to come crashing down, it is still worth remaining vigilant in the presence of these large masses of snow. Give them plenty of room when approaching ridgecrests and while travelling below them.
In the past 24 hours the Sunburst weather station at 3,812′ reported an average temperature of 20 degrees F. Winds were calm to light, blowing 4 mph out of the SW. No measurable precip has fallen.
Light snow showers have begun this morning. Today expect up to 6″ of new snow. Ridgetop winds will be light out of the SE at 10-15mph. Temperatures at 1,000′ will be in the low 30 F range.
The pattern of clear and sunny weather is over. An unsettled pattern is on tap for the next several days, with precip, cloud cover and cooler temps on its way.
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I will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning, April 7th.
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
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02/07/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seattle Ridge | Wagner / Keeler Forecaster |
02/07/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Pete’s North | Megan Guinn |
02/05/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Rookie Hill | Tony Naciuk |
01/31/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Johnson Pass area | Megan Guinn / W Wagner Forecaster |
01/29/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Backdoor | AAS-Level 1 1/27-1/30 |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | Brooke Edwards |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | W Wagner |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | Tony Naciuk |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | John Sykes |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Lynx Creek | 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 |
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Glacier District |
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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.