Turnagain Pass

Rain falling on snow has initiated a widespread avalanche cycle in the mid elevation band. The Girdwood Valley saw 2.4″ of rain in the past 24 hours below ~2,200′ and subsequently significant wet slab and wet loose avalanche activity. Wet avalanches were reported up to 2,700′ in elevation, which is just above the rain/snow line and where very wet snow is falling. This trend is expected to continue today. There is not much known about the activity yet at Turnagain Pass where around 2″ of rain fell or at Summit Lake with 1″ of rain, but we can expect wet avalanche activity in these areas as well. The rain/snow line has been fluctuating between 2,200′ and 2,500′ in general. Yes, this is soaking the meager snowpack between 1,000′ and 2,500′ and allowing the alders to bounce back up. 

Image: A look at Tincan Ridge at Turnagain Pass being wetted down up to the top of the trees. Once these storm cycles cease, the upper elevations should look much different, the lower will hopefully remain snow covered!

In the Alpine, wet and heavy snow is falling, which becomes drier with elevation. From our rainfall totals at the snow stations, we can expect that during the past 24 hours 1-2+’ of snow has accumulated. Cornices are building and the weak pre-existing snowpack continues to be loaded. Storm snow avalanches that include storm slabs, wind slabs and cornice breaks all can be expected today at the high elevations. What can also be expected is the snow may stick fairly well and instead of avalanche immediately as a storm snow problem, it may overload and tip the balance of the weak snow sitting near the ground and create a very large avalanche, taking most of the snowpack with it. 

Again, the message is simple for today, avoid avalanche terrain. This means steering clear of slopes 30 degrees and steeper with nothing steeper above or near you. Also, be extra cautious of evaluating runout zones.