Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast RSS

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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Sat, March 5th, 2016 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sun, March 6th, 2016 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Wendy Wagner
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the Turnagain Pass area today for wind slab avalanches, glide avalanches and cornice falls. Watch for fresh wind slabs to be forming in the 3-5″ of new snow expected with moderate to strong winds. These slabs are likely to be around 6-10″ thick and forming at the upper elevations. At the mid-elevations, glide cracks continue to release and limiting time under these is prudent. Last, give cornices a wide berth and limit time under them as well.  

Today is a day to watch the changing weather conditions and take inventory of the new snow amounts. There is a possibility this system could turn out to be a ‘sleeper storm’; meaning we receive more snow than forecast.  

*If you are headed to the Summit Lake area don’t forget to check today’s  Summit Lake Summary  and click  HERE  for recent Summit Lake observations.

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Sat, March 5th, 2016
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Moderate (2)
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Moderate (2)
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
No Rating (0)
Avalanche risk
Alpine
Above 2,500'		 Avalanche risk
Moderate (2)
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'		 Avalanche risk
Moderate (2)
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'		 Avalanche risk
No Rating (0)
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

A weak storm system has entered the Eastern Turnagain Arm region this morning. Snowfall has just begun and Easterly winds have just picked up. We are expecting 3-5″ of snow today above 1,000′ with rain below (this rain/snow line could creep up through the day and we could see more than 5″ of snow in places). With this new snow and ridgetop winds in the 15-30mph range, we can expect shallow wind slabs to be forming. These slabs will be sitting on this past week’s variable surfaces (sun crust, wind crust, soft settled powder). How well the fresh slabs will bond with the old surfaces will be the question today.

If you are headed out pay close attention to:
1)  How much snow has fallen.
2)  What are the winds doing. Are they transporting snow along the ridgelines? Are they loading slopes?
3)  How well is the new snow/wind loaded snow bonding with the underlying surface? Quick hand pits can be good to suss this out.

Cornice falls:  As is the general rule, these are worth avoiding/limiting time under as they continue to break off. Today they will get stressed a bit more with new snow and wind.

Photo below: Pete’s North ridgeline from yesterday. Recent cornice falls can be seen along the ridge. 

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Glide Avalanches
    Glide Avalanches
Glide Avalanches
Glide Avalanches are the release of the entire snow cover as a result of gliding over the ground. Glide avalanches can be composed of wet, moist, or almost entirely dry snow. They typically occur in very specific paths, where the slope is steep enough and the ground surface is relatively smooth. They are often proceeded by full depth cracks (glide cracks), though the time between the appearance of a crack and an avalanche can vary between seconds and months. Glide avalanches are unlikely to be triggered by a person, are nearly impossible to forecast, and thus pose a hazard that is extremely difficult to manage.
More info at Avalanche.org

Although we have a short burst of snowfall and wind on tap today, glide avalanches remain just as much of a concern. This is due to the countless number of glide cracks in places folks recreate and the destructive nature of a glide avalanche in the event one does release. There were several glide cracks that slide yesterday in the Summit Lake area and one possible new glide avalanche in the Lynx creek drainage. All that said, it’s worth keeping a lookout for cracks and minimizing time under them – no question! 

Photo from yesterday: Very large glide crack on the SW face of Cornbiscuit. You can see tracks on the looker’s left of the 8-12+’ deep crack.

Weather
Sat, March 5th, 2016

Partly sunny skies, with some blue holes, covered the region yesterday. A morning snow squall added a trace of snow at sea level in Girdwood (and a few inches in Anchorage – causing some driving mayhem) but this all missed Turnagain Pass. However, snowfall has started to fall this morning and as of 6am we have seen 2″ accumulate. Winds during the past 24-hours have been steady averaging ~10mph with gusts to 20mph. Temperatures have been in the mid 20’s F on the ridgelines and ~30F at 1,000′.  

Today we have a weak system moving over us from the East. This will give us a chance for 3-5″ of snow with a rain/snow line between 1,000 and 1,500′. Temperatures should climb through the day and peak around 35F at 1,000′ and the upper 20’sF on the ridgelines. Winds are slated to bump up to the moderate-to-strong category from the East along the ridgetops (15-30mph with stronger gusts).

This system looks to exit this evening and tomorrow, Sunday, we should see party sunny skies with a possible snow shower here and there. Stay tuned.

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

  Temp Avg (F) Snow (in) Water (in) Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′) 25   2   0.2   139  
Summit Lake (1400′) 25   0   0   42  
Alyeska Mid (1700′) 25   2   0.15    104

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

  Temp Avg (F) Wind Dir Wind Avg (mph) Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′) 24   NE   8   23  
Seattle Ridge (2400′) 26   –   –   –  
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Riding Areas
Updated Tue, January 12th, 2021

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
Open
No parking in turnaround at end of the road near the outhouse.
Placer River
Open
Early season conditions exist, including thin ice on rivers, swamps and lakes. Please do not ride along Railroad tracks. Cross tracks at 90 degree angle and clear the right of way.
Skookum Drainage
Open
Early season conditions exist, including thin ice on rivers, swamps and lakes. Please do not ride along Railroad tracks. Cross tracks at 90 degree angle and clear the right of way.
Turnagain Pass
Open
Twentymile
Closed
Seward District
Carter Lake
Open
Lost Lake Trail
Open
Primrose Trail
Open
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Closed for the 2020/21 winter season.
Snug Harbor
Open
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Open
Summit Lake
Open

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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.

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