Turnagain Pass RSS

Archives
ARCHIVED - Forecasts expire after 24 hours.
Issued
Sun, January 19th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Expires
Mon, January 20th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Kevin Wright
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

A break in the stormy weather yesterday gave us a good look around at the avalanche carnage from Friday.  As expected, many natural avalanches pulled out during the intense storm.  They varied from large high elevation dry slab to low elevation wet slab.  Many of the examples we saw were breaking at deeper layers and stripping the full depth of snow to the ground.  Explosive triggers over the last 2 days were finding some disturbing results with many large full depth sympathetic avalanches.

Today will start at  CONSIDERABLE for all elevations  and slowly get less stable throughout the day as another wave of precipitation hits from the South.  Temperatures remain above freezing down low for the 3rd day in a row.  Wind will pick up, reaching ridgetop speeds of 59-74mph tonight.

Human triggered avalanches are  LIKELY today in steep terrain.  Full depth releases are also likely if an avalanche is initiated, making the size unmanageable for people.  

Sun, January 19th, 2014
Alpine
Above 2,500'
3 - Considerable
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
3 - Considerable
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
3 - Considerable
Avalanche risk
0 - No Rating
1 - Low
2 - Moderate
3 - Considerable
4 - High
5 - Extreme
Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk
Travel Advice Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain.
Likelihood of Avalanches Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain.
Avalanche Size and Distribution Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. Very large avalanches in many areas.
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Deep Persistent Slabs
    Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
More info at Avalanche.org

This storm pushed us into a deep slab problem at higher elevations.  This means that we now have average slab depths of greater than 1 meter sitting on top of a persistent weak layer.  The avalanche implications are the same as we’ve been seeing, but the volume and destructive force have increased.  

With deep slab concerns a backcountry traveler will probably not see obvious signs of instabilty (whumphing, shooting cracks) until the slab actually avalanches.  It is unlikely to be triggered at the deep points, but rather at the thinner edges near scoured ridges or exposed rocks.  It may propagate large distances where it then pulls the deeper pockets.  It may allow multiple tracks before somebody finds the trigger point and avalanches the entire slope.  

Deep slab is a low probability, high consequence problem.  With continued precipitation, warm temperatures, and high wind – steep terrain should be avoided.  When active weather abates the safe terrain options will get better with time.  

This photo is on Moose mountain, above Canyon creek.  

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Wet Loose
    Wet Loose
Wet Loose
Wet Loose avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
More info at Avalanche.org

Below 2000 feet we had significant rain on snow on Friday.  We can expect more rain today, perhaps as high as 1200 feet.  The photos below show an example of the abnormal avalanche activity that can happen with rain and warm temperatures.  This is fairly low in the Tincan trees.  3 distinct pockets released sympathetically on the steeper rolls as the weak layer collapsed.  Debris from this was very dense.  

Tincan avalanche 1550 ft elevation.  200 feet high by 1000 feet wide.  2-3 feet deep.

Weather
Sun, January 19th, 2014

Friday’s storm deposited over 2 feet of snow at high elevations and over 3 inches of rain or snow water equivalent at some low elevations.  Saturday gave us a break in the storm, but temperatures did not drop significantly.  

Today, more rain and snow is expected.  Another pulse of moisture is approaching from the south, originating at a deep 956mb low pressure center.  Up to another inch of water is forecasted for the next 24 hours, with the bulk of that precipitation happening tonight.  Temperatures will increase throughout the day, and snow level will rise from 500 feet to 1200 feet.  Look for a southeast wind 51-74 mph, also increasing slightly as the day progresses.

Expect continued warm temperatures through the week with more rain and snow possible.  

Current satellite image.

Observations
Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass
Date Region Location
10/27/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan
10/21/24 Turnagain Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation
10/19/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run
10/18/24 Turnagain Observation: Taylor Pass
10/15/24 Turnagain Observation: Tincan Common
10/14/24 Turnagain Avalanche: Tincan
05/13/24 Turnagain Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South
05/13/24 Turnagain Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side
05/12/24 Turnagain Observation: Warm up Bowl
05/07/24 Turnagain Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs
Riding Areas

The riding areas page has moved. Please click here & update your bookmarks.


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.