Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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A change in the weather will be changing the snow stability today. Look for pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger as wind slabs build above treeline. Shaded northerly aspects are holding plenty of soft snow that can be blown around by today’s forecasted wind.
Lost Lake, Primrose, and Resurrection pass trail have closed to snowmachines due to inadequate snow cover. Check the bottom of this page for the latest information on motorized areas.
Most of the sunny faces (south, east, and west) are crusty at the surface. This is not the case for north faces, which hold 6+ inches of soft snow. With forecasted wind today, that soft snow may build into slabs of unstable snow. This morning the biggest danger is probably just loose snow sluffing, but after the wind kicks up that will change to smaller pockets of wind slab.
Any freshly formed wind slab will be poorly bonded to the snow underneath. Expect it to be hair trigger today if you approach any steep terrain.
By tomorrow this wind slab may be joined with fresh storm snow, but that snowfall is not expected to be significant today.
The photo below shows distribution of sun crusted terrain. The bowl is west facing, the slopes on the left face south, the slopes on the right face north. Everything left of the black line has a surface crust. Everything right of the line is soft and loose.
Clouds have taken over our previously sunny skies. A chance of rain and snow is possible today, with very little accumulation expected. Wind will increase, look for ridgetop wind to hit 15-30mph today and 25-45mph tonight from the southeast. Temperatures will reach the high 30s during the day and drop to the high 20s at night.
Precipitation is likely to increase on Sunday with snowfall accumulating. Total depths are not expected to exceed about 6 inches in the mountains, but stay tuned as those numbers get updated.
Latest infrared satellite image.
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
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05/22/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Nick D'Alessio |
05/12/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan, Sunburst, Magnum, Cornbiscuit | Heather Thamm |
05/07/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Bear Tracks | CNFAIC Staff |
05/05/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seattle Ridge | AS/ WW Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | Schauer/ Sturgess Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seward Hwy Turnagain Pass | Joel Curtis |
04/30/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Magnum | Ayla, Kit Crosby, Barton |
04/29/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | John Sykes |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Taylor Pass/Pastoral | Schauer/ Creighton Forecaster |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Andy Moderow |
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.