Turnagain Pass
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We have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger today both above and below treeline.
Below treeline: Rain on snow has increased overnight and the possibility exists for natural wet slab avalanches today. These have the potential to break near the ground and propagate across slopes and rollovers.
Above treeline: Heavy wet snow is falling along with strong wind. This added weight could overload weak snow near the bottom of the pack resulting in a large deep slab avalanche. Additionally, cornices are building. A cornice fall is a great backcounty bomb which has the potential to trigger a larger full-depth avalanche below.
It seems many folks are finding this rainy and windy weather a bit less than enticing, but if you do head out into the backcountry – places to head are low angle slopes, 30 degrees or less in steepness, that have nothing steeper above you.
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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. |
It is another wet and windy storm day in the Girdwood and Turnagain Pass area. Light rain fell yesterday up to 2000’ and has intensified overnight. Rain will persist through the day today adding up to another .75” of water. That said, wet avalanches due to continued rain on snow will be the main concern below treeline.
We have seen very little natural avalanche activity since Friday’s heavy rain event and widespread avalanche cycle. However, there was one wet slab noted on the Southeast face of Seattle Ridge just below treeline (photo below). This avalanche is one of the smaller wet slabs we have seen lately but it does show that the pack is still adjusting to the rain on snow – this can also be seen in Fitz’s video HERE from Sunday. With today’s increase in precipitation we could see a few more natural wet slabs release.
Natural wet slab avalache likely occurring Sunday or very early Monday. (1800′, SE facing, 12-18″ deep x ~150′ wide)
Above treeline our snowpack is getting deeper by the day. We have had up to 3’ of dense heavy snow fall since Thursday night. Yes, this is good news for the upper elevations in the long term, but for the moment it is creating a dangerous deep slab avalanche problem. The weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack was overloaded by Friday’s rapid loading event and several large full-depth avalanches occurred. Some of these propagated across entire slopes and deposited deep debris piles. This natural activity has since settled down and stability tests show likelihood of triggering becoming harder and harder but if it does go a deep and destructive avalanche is likely. With the continued stormy weather, warm temperatures, and very little upper elevation information, the deep slab issue continues to deserve much respect.
In short – this is a highly unpredictable but highly consequential avalanche problem.
In the upper elevations (above 2,500’) where it has been and will continue to snow, storm snow instabilities will be a concern. These are mainly in the form of wind slabs near the upper elevation ridgelines. The Easterly winds have been strong for over 24-hours on the ridgetops. Though wind slabs were abundant yesterday around 3,000’ they were shallow (6-8″ thick), stubborn and hard to crack. However, the higher one goes in elevation the more sensitive, and larger, they should be.
Cornice growth
Cornices have been growing substantially the past several days. A cornice fall right now has the potential to trigger a large deep slab avalanche. This is one more reason to steer clear of runout zones.
Another pulse of warm, wet and windy weather is over us currently. During the past 24-hours we have seen .7 € of rain at the Turnagain Pass SNOTEL (1880′). Another .75 of rain is expected today. Temperatures have been in the upper 20’sF on the ridgetops and low 40’sF at sea level. Wind has been strong with averages around 50mph and gusts to 96mph from the East.
Temperatures today are expected to be in the mid to upper 20’s on the ridgetops and low 40’s at sea level. The rain/snow line will be around 2000′ once again with .75 € of rain expected below this and up to 8 € of heavy snow up high. Winds will remain out of the East with averages in the 60-70mph range.
The next several days look to remain warm and stormy. Models are hinting at a possible clearing by the weekend.
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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