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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Tue, April 8th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Expires
Wed, April 9th, 2014 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Wendy Wagner
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

Most areas today will continue to have a LOW avalanche danger as only a few inches of snow is expected to blanket the mountains. However, in favored locations that see 6″ or more with gusty winds the danger will rise to MODERATE. In this case, fresh wind slabs ~8″ thick may be found on leeward slopes near ridgelines and on steep rollovers. Additionally, watch for shallow new snow sluffs and, if the sun pokes through later in the day, natural wet sluffs from rocks and trees.

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Tue, April 8th, 2014
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Low (1)
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
Low (1)
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
  • Wind Slabs
    Wind Slabs
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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

For the first time in just over 3 weeks we have measureable snow to report! However, accumulations are scant – but still accumulations nonetheless. So far we have picked up roughly 3″ in Turnagain Pass and Girdwood Valley with another 1-3″ possible today. Colder air is moving in and the new snow is low in denisty and reaching sea level.

Winds are forecast to be generally light, but on some ridge tops may be just strong enough to move the light snow around and form shallow wind slabs on leeward slopes. With such low snow amounts these are not likely to pose much threat unless you find yourself in a zone with 6″ or so of new snow. In this case, quick hand pits, watching for wind drifted snow and any cracking or ‘slabing’ up of the new snow will be key in sussing out wind slabs. Watch for them to be touchy and not bonding well with the crusty conditions underneath. 

For a sense of the expected surface conditions (ah, ‘dust-on-crust’) – below are shots of yesterday’s snow cover that is now mostly frozen with 1-3+?” of light snow on top:

Seattle Ridge – snowmachine ‘up-track’              NW ridge and face of Magnum                          SW terrain on Tincan
  

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Dry Loose
    Dry Loose
Dry Loose
Dry Loose avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
More info at Avalanche.org

On slopes lucky enough to receive over a few inches of snow you’ll likely find it easy to initiate predictable and low volume dry sluffs.

**Later in the day, if the sun is able to warm the new snow watch for roller-balling from rocks/trees/alders/etc. If the sun is intense enough, these could turn into decent size wet snow sluffs and something to be aware of if you are in confined terrain such as gullies. Damp/wet snow sluffs can push a person around much more than the dry variety that should be present earlier in the day.

 

 

Weather
Tue, April 8th, 2014

Yesterday’s partly cloudy skies, light winds and warm temperatures (30-40deg F) continued to melt out the existing snow cover. Overnight however, cloud cover moved back in and snow began to fall as cold air slides in from the Northwest and collides with a warm and weak low pressure to our South – finally a little re-fresher!

Snowfall estimates as of 6am this morning are below.  The go-to Turnagain Pass and Summit SNOTEL sites are not reporting this morning so estimates are a bit rough. But, you can watch the lighted snow stake loop on the RWIS Turnagain Pass site for an idea.

Turnagain Pass:  3″
Summit Lake:  0″
Girdwood Valley:  3-4″

It looks like we should get another 1-3″ of very low density snow on top of this throughout the day along with patches of sunshine. Temperatures should continue to drop to around 10F on the ridge tops and to the low 20’sF at 1,000′ – snow to sea level. Winds will remain mostly light to moderate (10-15mph) and switch from the Northwest to a Northeast direction with gusts to 20mph.

Beginning tonight, a return to clear skies and mild weather is in store as another high pressure builds and extends through the remainder of the week.

Observations
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Riding Areas
Updated Sat, September 23rd, 2023

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
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Placer River
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Skookum Drainage
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Turnagain Pass
Closed
Scheduled opening on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving per Chugach National Forest plan. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Twentymile
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Seward District
Carter Lake
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Lost Lake Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Primrose Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Snug Harbor
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Summit Lake
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.

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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.