Tue, January 10, 2017 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Tue, January 10th, 2017

Alpine
Above 2,500'

Low (1)

Treeline
1,000'-2,500'

Low (1)

Below Treeline
Below 1,000'

Low (1)

Alpine Above 2,500'		Low (1)
Treeline 1,000'-2,500'		Low (1)
Below Treeline Below 1,000'		Low (1)

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

Blue skies, light winds and an uncharacteristically strong inversion continue to dominate our weather. Temperatures reached over 40F on some ridgetops yesterday, this is hard to believe from the single-digit cold air trapped in valley bottoms and parking lots. We got a report of a wet loose avalanche that ran in steep rocky terrain yesterday (photo below). With warm temperatures again today, these small wet loose slides, under rocks heated from the sun, are possible. If you decide to ride/ski on these steep South facing slopes, watch for surface warming in the top few inches of the snowpack and know that triggering a wet loose avalanche is possible.

Despite the ‘green light’ conditions, remember the snowpack has a poor structure on upper elevation slopes that have not avalanched and were loaded by past winds (mainly North and East aspects). Hard wind slabs sit on faceted snow and/or buried surface hoar. Triggering a more dangerous slab that breaks in these layers is unlikely, however with the warm temperatures and variability across the region, it’s not impossible. Keeping up with safe travel protocol is key (exposing one person at a time, grouping up in safe zones and having an escape route planned).

Small wet loose avalanche on South facing Tincan Proper yesterday. Likely triggered by rocks warming loose snow in very steep rocky terrain directly facing the sun. Thanks to Nick Crews for passing this on to us! Read more HERE.

Additional Concern

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

Glide avalanches possible this week: Continued warm temperatures at the upper elevations may enhance ‘glide’ in the snowpack. Watch for glide cracks to open up and a few may release. This pattern is similar to last week when 3 glide cracks released. Known cracks exist on the South face of Eddie’s, Goldpan (behind the Magnum ridge), East face of Seattle Ridge (Northern end) and Southerly slopes near Johnson Pass.

Weather

Tue, January 10th, 2017

STATE OF THE SNOWPACK??:

Below is a quick look at the snowpack, in terms of how much there is today compared to other years on this day. For snow depth, we are sitting at the 2nd thinnest January 10th, yet there are only data since 2004 when the sensor was installed. For SWE (Snow Water Equivalent), we are sitting at just over half of what we would normally be for this time of year. It has been 12 days since the last snowfall and it’s clear we are in need of a refresh!

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It was a sunny balmy day yesterday in the high elevations – temperatures at 4,000′ were right around 40F. This is quite a contrast to the cold frosty single-digit-air trapped in the valleys. Ridgetop winds yesterday were light and variable and skies were clear.

Overnight, the upper elevation temperatures remained in the high 30’sF while valley bottoms, sitting in the cold pool, are anywhere between -5 and +15F. Temperatures should rise a few degrees during the day, similar to yesterday. Ridgetop winds are expected to be light, 5-10mph from the Northwest and skies clear.

As we keep looking into the weather model “crystal ball” for the next precipitation event, it looks like we could get some cloudy skies and flurries for the weekend.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	24	0	0	34
Summit Lake (1400′)	10	0	0	11
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	25	0	0	22

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	39!!	W	4	10
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	34	variable	3	8

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
03/26/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Sunburst avalanche investigation	Schauer/ Cullen Forecaster
03/26/23	Turnagain	Observation: Magnum shoulder	Matthew Howard
03/25/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Seattle Ridge backside – several human triggered large avalanches	CNFAIC Staff
03/25/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Seattle Ridge, 3rd Bowl, Rider Triggered Avalanches	CNFAIC Staff
03/25/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Pastoral	Tony Naciuk
03/25/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Eddie’s	James Howery
03/25/23	Turnagain	Observation: Eddies lower slopes	Anna Frick Bridget Psarianos
03/25/23	Turnagain	Observation: Sunny Side	Peter Wadsworth
03/24/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Sunburst/Magnum	Megan Guinn & John Sykes Forecaster
03/23/23	Turnagain	Avalanche: Magnum	Amanda Goss

Riding Areas

Updated Fri, February 10th, 2023

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	Opened Dec 13th.
Placer River	Open	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow and reopened Feb 11th.
Skookum Drainage	Open	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow and reopened Feb 11th.
Turnagain Pass	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Twentymile	Open	Closed Jan 5th due to lack of snow and reopened Feb 11th.
Seward District
Carter Lake	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Lost Lake Trail	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Primrose Trail	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Resurrection Pass Trail	Closed	Closed to motorized use for the 2022/23 winter season per Forest Plan. Open next season.
Snug Harbor	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
South Fork Snow River Corridor	Open	Opened Dec 13th.
Summit Lake	Open	Opened Dec 13th.