Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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The avalanche danger is LOW today in the alpine and treeline elevations. New snow falling througout the day will build very small and isolated pockets of slab up to 6″ deep in upper elevation leeward starting zones. Below treeline there is minimal snow cover and travel on skis or a board is not recommended.
Early season hazards-rocks, stumps, and a slick crust require careful travel in the mountains today.
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.
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.
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 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | 24 | var | 3 | 15 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 24 | S | 10 | 20 |
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 |
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 |
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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.