Turnagain Pass
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The Bottom Line
The avalanche danger is LOW today. Avalanches are unlikely. Snow (up to an inch) and winds will be arriving today but will not be enough to create new instabilities.
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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. |
The spring like weather of the last 18 days has come to an end. During this time period the snowpack quieted down. Avalanche activity waned and older buried weak layers had time to adjust to the load that arrived in mid March.
The next slab will begin to build slowly over the next several days. New snow falling today will touch down on a variety of snow surfaces.
On North aspects that were sheltered from winds expect to find the weakest interface. It is here where you will find mainly facets along with pockets of surface hoar that will begin to get buried.
On South, East and West aspects, the snow surface is comprised mainly of crusts. Any surface that received direct sunlight has a firm surface. Exceptions to this are on aspects with a Northerly tilt and lower angled terrain.
New snow and wind will not be great enough to bump the avalanche danger above LOW today.
As always, it is important to use good travel practices when moving through avalanche terrain. Expose only one person at a time, use islands of safety when stopping in steep terrain, avoid cornices and communicate plans within your group effectively.
Look for the avalanche danger to be on the rise beyond today as new snow and wind combine to build slabs over the next several days. For today precipitation amounts will be too light to create new slabs that will be of concern. However, this will change as more snow and wind look to be on its way through the weekend.
In the past 24 hours ridge top temperatures (Sunburst station at 3,812′) have averaged 22 degrees F. Winds out of the East were light averaging 5 mph with a max gust of 21 mph. Clouds moved in during the late afternoon ahead of an approaching frontal boundary.
Winter Part IV looks like it might be on our doorstep. Today we can expect cloudy skies with occasional light flurries in the mountains. Temperatures at 1,000′ will reach into the high 30s F. Ridge top winds will be on the increase out of the East at 15-20 mph.
The synoptic pattern has changed. The blocking high pressure that dominated the weather over the past 18 days has broken down. A low pressure trough will set up over the weekend, bringing increasing chances for snow during this time.
| Date | Region | Location | Observer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Bertha Creek | Anonymous |
| 04/20/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Spokane Creek | Schauer/ Mailly Forecaster |
| 04/16/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | Krueger / Matthys Forecaster |
| 04/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | John Sykes Forecaster |
| 04/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Seward Highway – Tern Lake to Portage | Joel Curtis |
| 04/14/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | T. Olsen-Lund, R. Sullivan I. Adams |
| 04/14/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Snomo | K. Gallaher |
| 04/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Spokane Creek | Everet Megli |
| 04/11/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | John Sykes Forecaster |
| 04/10/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | Schauer/ Keeler Forecaster |
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