Sat, November 29, 2014 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Sat, November 29th, 2014

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Low (1)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Low (1)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

No Rating (0)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Low (1)
Treeline 1,000'-2,500'		Low (1)
Below Treeline Below 1,000'		No Rating (0)

Danger Scale:

No Rating (0)

Low (1)

Moderate (2)

Considerable (3)

High (4)

Extreme (5)

Avalanche Problem 1

Normal Caution

Normal Caution

Normal Caution means triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible.

More info at Avalanche.org

With forecasted snow amounts in the 2-4” range, expect your main issue to continue to be early season hazards. This new snow will come to rest on a layer of weak snow, but is not quite enough to warrant heightened concern. Keep in mind that LOW danger does not mean ‘no’ danger.

Be on the lookout for isolated pockets of slab in the higher elevations to build to a max depth of 6” today. These slabs will be scattered in favored locations and not continuous enough to be a significant issue.

Loose snow sluffing is also possible in very steep terrain. 4-8″ of older low density snow on the surface has shown to be well bonded to the crust below. There is still the chance of finding areas on slopes over 40 degrees where sluffing of the new & old snow could be a concern. As with the isolated pockets mentioned above, any sluffs that might be triggered will be very low in volume.

Weather

Sat, November 29th, 2014

It has now been a full week since the last measurable snowfall in the mountains. Winds have remained generally calm during this period as well. Temperatures have been more winter like allowing for preservation of the snow that sits on the ground.

Today a weakening Low pressure system is bringing moisture from the Southwest. The orientation of this band of precip will favor Hatcher Pass and Anchorage. Turnagain will receive the leftovers; enough to drop 2-4 € of snow in the mountains. Winds will be light out of the Southeast at 5-10 mph. Temperatures at 1,000′ will be in the low 30s F while ridgetops will be in the mid 20s F.

Snow should taper off by tonight as a short lived ridge of high pressure will build into the area. The extended outlook points to more precip in the form of snow as we head into the early part of next week.

PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	27	trace	.1	17
Summit Lake (1400′)	25	0	0	1
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	28	0	0	9

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	24	var	3	15
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	24	S	10	20

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
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

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.