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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today. Glide avalanches continue to release daily in popular recreation areas. Avoid being under the runout of glide cracks. Human triggered and natural wet loose avalanches are possible in steep terrain due to saturated snow, rain and warm temperatures. In the Alpine new snow and strong winds have formed wind slabs and added stress to already large cornices.
*ATTENTION HIKERS: Summer use areas crossing under avalanche terrain should be avoided due to the possibility of natural avalanche activity. Byron trail in Portage Valley and Crow Pass are two examples of trails with dangerous avalanche terrain above.
AVALANCHE OUTLOOK for Wednesday, April 27th:
Continued CONSIDERABLE danger is anticipated for Wednesday due to rain/snow, strong winds, and warm temperatures. Remember this means natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely. If the precipitation is heavier than forecasted or the sun comes out for an extended period of time the danger may increase to HIGH.
Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
The wet spring storm that is impacting our area has added almost 2″ of rain to an already wet snowpack. As the snowpack gets warmer and more saturated below 2500′ the already active glide avalanche cycle may ramp up even more. An additional glide avalanche ran over the uptrack on Seattle Ridge and another piece of the crack on the West face of Magnum also released. Watch for new cracks appearing and avoid travel under existing glide cracks.
West face of Magnum with recent wet loose avalanches and a new glide release adjacent to the one from last week.
New glide avalanche on the Seattle Ridge uptrack (farthest right streak).
Turnagain Pass received almost 2″ of water yesterday and another .5″ is forecasted to fall today. The rain is falling onto an already wet snowpack. Human triggered wet loose avalanches are likely below 2500′ and natural ones are possible. Skiers reported triggering a small wet loose avalanche on Sunday. Visibility was limited yesterday but new wet loose avalanches were observed on the West face of Magnum. We have yet to see surface slides gouging into deeper layers but this potential may increase. As the rain/snowline dances around 2500′ rain may fall onto snow and trigger wet loose avalanches as well. We will continue to monitor whether or not the rain is impacting the drier snow in the Alpine. If you are traveling through the glop today pay attention to how deeply you are penetrating into the snowpack, watch for roller balls and remember loose avalanches can knock you off your feet, are hard to escape and can push you into terrain traps.
Wet day at Turnagain Pass
Temperatures at 3000′ have remained below freezing which means the rain falling at the road will have been snow in the Alpine. We suspect 6-12″ have fallen in the past 24 hrs. This combined with the sustained 30-40 mph winds may have formed tender wind slabs along ridgelines. Look for drifted snow and watch for cracking underfoot. The wind and snow may also have added stress to very large cornices. Avoid travel on or under these beasts.
Yesterday was overcast and rain fell throughout the day (snow above 2500′?). Temperatures were in the high 30Fs at 1000′ and the high 20Fs at 3000′. Easterly winds were steady 30-40mph with gusting into the 80s.
Today will be mostly cloudy with another .5″ of rain forecasted to fall. Winds will be easterly 15-35 mph potentially increasing in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the low 30Fs to low 40Fs depending on elevation.
Tomorrow looks to be similar and to quote the National Weather Service, “NO BIG CHANGES IN THE WEATHER FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD. WEDNESDAY EVENING AND THURSDAY FEATURE AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT WEATHER PATTERN.”
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
Center Ridge (1880′) | 37 | 0 | 1.8 | 104 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 41 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 36 | 0 | .8 | 87 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | 28 | ENE | 33 | 89 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 30 | ESE | 25 | 60 |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
10/14/24 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | CNFAC Staff |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South | H Thamm |
05/13/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side | Amy Holman |
05/12/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Warm up Bowl | Tony Naciuk |
05/07/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs | A S |
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