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ARCHIVED - Forecasts expire after 24 hours.
Issued
Sat, November 18th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sun, November 19th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
CNFAIC Staff
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

Daily advisories will begin the week of Thanksgiving if there is enough snow! A  very thin snowpack exists in our forecast zone due to  High pressure that has dominated the region for most of November.  An inch of snow was recorded on Thursday at Turnagain Pass and another storm is moving through our region tomorrow, Sunday. Right now the weather forecast is calling for a few inches of snow (2-5″) to fall before the storm tapers off early Monday morning. Another round of High pressure appears to be following this storm, but stay tuned for an update Monday morning.  

Even though the current conditions are best described as variable and thin,  there is still enough snow to warrent caution when traveling in avalanche terrain. Should you venture out this weekend pay attention for any obvious clues (shooting cracks, whumpfing or recent avalanches) and always wear a beacon, shovel and probe.  Check out an  observation  from Tuesday to get a picture of the snowpack before any snow arrives tomorrow. The big take-away is there is snow in most of the start zones and new snow may not bond well to current surface conditions. Tuesday’s terrible skiing could be tomorrow’s weak layer!  

View of snow coverage on Seattle Ridge and Repeat Offender. Photo taken Tuesday, Nov. 14  

Tincan, Common Bowl, SW aspect at 2500′. Average height of snow at this elevation was ~6″-10″.

Special Announcements

If you’re headed to Hatcher Pass today, check out their first advisory of the season for Saturday, Nov. 18th  HERE  and a recent observation from Friday HERE.

Sat, November 18th, 2017
Alpine
Above 2,500'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
0 - No Rating
Avalanche risk
0 - No Rating
1 - Low
2 - Moderate
3 - Considerable
4 - High
5 - Extreme
Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk
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.
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Announcement
    Announcement

We are focusing each early season update on one of the Know Before You Go’s ‘GETS’.  Today’s GET is GET OUT OF HARMS WAY!  (Know Before You Go video link in case you missed it)

Learning how to travel safely in avalanche terrain is a practiced skill. Most avalanche accidents occur on (or beneath) slopes with a steepness between 30 – 45 degrees. When you take an avalanche course your learn how to evaluate slope angles, identify run-out zones, and how to avoid terrain traps. Before you decide to go into the backcountry, check the forecast. This will help you match your terrain choice to the current avalanche conditions. If the avalanche conditions are too dangerous don’t go into avalanche terrain.

In order to minimize your exposure to an avalanche hazard always practice safe travel rituals. Identify safe zones along your route and only expose one at a time in avalanche terrain by spreading out or going one at a time. Its very important to maintain good communication, spot your partners, and always be rescue ready. For snowmachiners this can be extra challenging due to much faster speeds, loud engines and greater distances. Consider using radios and discuss your route and safe zones before you start riding. Always regroup well away from slopes that can avalanche. Remember even small slopes can have deadly consequences. 

Below are a series of photos of popular areas around Turnagain Pass that are in avalanche terrain. Note the location of the skin track or uptrack. Think about where your safe zones would be located along these routes and how you can minimize exposure should the slope realease. 

This avalanche was triggered by a snowmachiner on January 8th, 2013 and luckily no one was caught. 

 

Natural Cornice fall triggered a small slab and ran into the terrain trap below and up and over a common “safe zone.” Imagine how far a larger avalanche could run in this same slide path.

 

This avalanche was triggered by a skier in 2015 who was caught and carried, and thankfully not buried or injured. This avalanche crossed over the skin track below. Its important to note avalanche hazard can exist on both sides of the valley and it is challenging to see if other parties are descending from above. 

 

 

 

Weather
Sat, November 18th, 2017

For weather information during these updates, see:

CNFAIC Weather Page

NWS Mountain Recreation Forecast  

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

  Temp Avg (F) Snow (in) Water (in) Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)        
Summit Lake (1400′)        
Alyeska Mid (1700′)        

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

  Temp Avg (F) Wind Dir Wind Avg (mph) Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)        
Seattle Ridge (2400′)        
Observations
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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.