Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE near and above treeline where triggering a slab 12-20 € thick is likely on all aspects above 2000′. This problem is due to a widespread layer of buried surface hoar. Triggering this layer will be more likely on slopes steeper than 30 degrees and especially dangerous on bigger slopes where slabs have the potential to be more connected and run further distances. A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the trees where an avalanche from above is possible.
***Observations from the Summit Lake area on the Kenai are showing a similarly unstable snowpack. Weekly summaries will begin on December 2nd.
Get your mind back in the ‘avalanche game’ by swinging by Blue and Gold Boardshop TONIGHT (Nov 22nd from 7-8:30pm) for a CNFAIC Fireside chat!! Topics covered: current snowpack conditions at Turnagain Pass, rescue techniques and internet resources. Details HERE.
A slab 12-20” thick is sitting on a fragile layer of buried surface hoar. This persistent weak layer is widespread and has been found on all aspect above treeline throughout Turnagain Pass and Summit Lake. Over fifteen human triggered avalanches were reported throughout the weekend and three more occurred yesterday on Tincan. Luckily no one has been buried or injured. Click HERE for more details on these observations.
Note worthy things to keep in mind today:
Although many of these avalanches have been relatively small, don’t forget that BIGGER SLOPES WILL HAVE BIGGER CONSIQUENCES! As we move away from the weather events that caused this scary set-up, remember this type of avalanche problem will be slow to heal. The next few days of clear weather are going to be tough to resist the temptation to get into bigger terrain. Avoid high consequence terrain and keep your slope angles low. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making will be necessary!
This small avalanche was triggered remotely by two skiers putting in a skin track at 2200′ on a North aspect on Tincan yesterday.
Natural avalanche activity on the West face and South face of Lipps, as seen yesterday (Nov. 21) from the Johnson Pass Trailhead.
An 18″ crown from an avalanche remotely triggered near the top of Manitoba’s West Face on Sunday November 20. This was above an avalanche triggered in the same area on November 19th.
Yesterday skies were partly cloudy following a storm that left 5 € of new snow in Turnagain Pass and brought moderate Easterly winds with gust into the 40’s mph. By mid afternoon ridgetop winds began to decrease into the teens mph. Rain/snow line briefly reached 1200′ yesterday morning, but temperatures cooled as skies cleared late morning. In the upper elevations temperatures averaged in the mid 20Fs.
Overnight winds were light from the East. Temperatures were in the mid to low 20’s F with a slight inversion causing ridgetop temperatures to be warmer than at road level. No precipitation was recorded.
Today skies are expected to be mostly clear with light winds from the East. Daytime temperatures will be in the high 20s F and no precipitation is expected today. This pattern is expected to last through Thanksgiving day with our next chance for snow showers near the end of the week.
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
Center Ridge (1880′) | 28 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 26 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 31 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | 26 | ENE | 15 | 51 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
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01/31/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Johnson Pass area | Megan Guinn / W Wagner Forecaster |
01/29/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Backdoor | AAS-Level 1 1/27-1/30 |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | Brooke Edwards |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | W Wagner |
01/28/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | Tony Naciuk |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Sunburst | John Sykes |
01/27/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Lynx Creek | Megan Guinn / W Wagner |
01/25/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | John Sykes Forecaster |
01/22/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Schauer/ Guinn |
01/21/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Seattle Ridge | Elias Holt |
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 |
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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.