Sat, December 06, 2014 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Sat, December 6th, 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

Over the past few weeks our field work has shown us that we do not have any persistent weak layers within the snowpack. What this boils down to is the fact that any instability that you might encounter on a given day will be short lived. This holds true today, as both precipitation and wind will not be enough to create new instability.

With that said, it is still important to pay attention to areas, mainly in the higher elevations, where winds could transport snow to create small isolated pockets of unstable snow. Yesterday we found mostly stable snow in these suspect areas, with newly formed wind slabs averaging 4-6” in depth in upper elevation starting zones. Slopes over 40 degrees in steepness with newly formed wind slabs will be the most likely place to find unstable snow today. Pay attention in this type of terrain and do not assume that LOW danger is the same as ‘no’ danger.

Weather

Sat, December 6th, 2014

A well organized Low pressure system currently centered over the West end of the Aleutians will draw warm moist air up from the South as it moves towards the area. As a result we should expect to see temperatures warming slightly today and through the weekend.

Precipitation will be light today, with the rain/snow line hovering around 1,000′ and 1-2 € of new snow possible above 1,000′. Ridge top winds will be out of the East at 5-15mph. Temps at 1,000′ will be in the mid 30sF and ridge tops should see the thermometer approaching 30F.

Expect winds to increase heading into the evening hours through Sunday and temperatures to rise as a complex Low moves through the area. We should see additional precipitation in the form of rain at sea level and snow in the higher elevations through the weekend. The general pattern looks to remain unsettled and active for the next several days.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	32	0	0	20
Summit Lake (1400′)	30	0	0	5
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	31	0	.02	18

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	25	E	17	52
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	27	N	14	37

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
05/28/22	Turnagain	Avalanche: Turnagain Pass – late May wet slab cycle	CNFAIC Staff
05/21/22	Turnagain	Avalanche: Magnum, Lipps and Tincan	CNFAIC Staff
05/17/22	Turnagain	Avalanche: Sunburst	CNFAIC Staff
05/17/22	Turnagain	Observation: Tincan Ridge	Joe Kurtak
05/11/22	Turnagain	Avalanche: Cornbiscuit and Magnum west faces	CNFAIC Staff Forecaster
05/07/22	Turnagain	Observation: Granddaddy	Kit Barton
04/29/22	Turnagain	Observation: Sunburst wx station	AS/ MM/ AM/ NH
04/28/22	Turnagain	Observation: More Turnagain Pass/Summit Lake wet slab activity	Alex Marienthal
04/27/22	Turnagain	Observation: Magnum	Sykes / Buttrick Forecaster
04/27/22	Turnagain	Observation: Girdwood/Summit/Turnagain Road obs	A S

Riding Areas

Updated Wed, June 01st, 2022

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	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Placer River	Closed	Closed as of April 25th due to insufficient snow coverage.
Skookum Drainage	Closed	Closed as of April 1st per Forest Plan.
Turnagain Pass	Closed	Closed as of June 1st.
Twentymile	Closed	Closed as of April 6th due to insufficient snow coverage.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Lost Lake Trail	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Primrose Trail	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Snug Harbor	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.
Summit Lake	Closed	Closed as of May 1 per Forest Plan.