Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast RSS

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ARCHIVED FORECAST - All forecasts expire after 24 hours from the posting date/time.
Issued
Sat, December 16th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sun, December 17th, 2017 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Heather Thamm
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE both at Treeline and in the Alpine where triggering a storm slab 1-2′ deep is likely on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. In the Alpine, above 2500′, triggering a much deeper and more dangerous avalanche, 4 – 6+ feet thick is possible today and could be unsurvivable. Obvious clues like whumpfing  and recent avalanches may not be present. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential.  

Below 1000′, where little snow exists, there is no danger rating.  

**Click HERE for the Summit Lake Summary

Special Announcements

Save the dates for two upcoming CNFAIC Fireside chats,  December 19th at Blue & Gold Boardshop  in Anchorage and  December 21st at Powder Hound Ski Shop  in Girdwood. Both will discuss lessons learned from past avalanche incidents.

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Sat, December 16th, 2017
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Considerable (3)
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Considerable (3)
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
No Rating (0)
Avalanche risk
Alpine
Above 2,500'
Avalanche risk
Considerable (3)
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
Avalanche risk
Considerable (3)
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
Avalanche risk
No Rating (0)
Danger Scale:
No Rating (0)
Low (1)
Moderate (2)
Considerable (3)
High (4)
Extreme (5)
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Storm Slabs
    Storm Slabs
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
More info at Avalanche.org

Yesterday strong Easterly winds combined with 13” of new snow have created storm slabs in the mid and upper elevations of Turnagain Pass. These newly formed slabs could vary in size from 1-2 feet thick and could be easy to trigger today. Due to strong winds yesterday these slabs may be wind loaded further downslope than expected and could catch you by surprise. Expect slabs to be thicker on leeward features  and along gullies where the snow has been cross loaded. Cornices are also likely to be tender. In the alpine triggering a storm slab or cornice could also wake up a much larger and more dangerous avalanche deeper in the snowpack. Don’t forget we have had continued stormy weather and elevated avalanche danger for the last two weeks including periods of heavy precipitation (both rain and snow), strong winds, and lots of recent avalanche activity. These are all red flags warning signs the snowpack needs more time to adjust to it’s new load. Maintaining a conservative mindset and avoiding slopes steeper than 35 degrees is recommended. 


Active wind loading was observed yesterday on Tincan early in the storm. 

 

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Deep Persistent Slabs
    Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
More info at Avalanche.org

Above 2,500′ very little information is known about the snowpack, but we do know that 5-8′ feet of snow has fallen over the last two weeks and landed on weak faceted snow with crust(s) near the ground. Last week this set-up was very reactive and there were multiple remote triggered avalanches in Turnagain Pass. More time and information is needed to determine the sensitivity and distribution of the deep persistent slab problem. Likely trigger spots will be thinner area of the snowpack wear winds have stripped snow. Unless you have x-ray vision these thinner areas will be impossible to know. Finding a shallow spot could have devastating results. This type of avalanche would be unsurvivable. There may be no obvious clues to indicate instability and digging to find the weak layer could be challenging.  Conservative route-finding will be essential due to the potential for large avalanches.


A snow pit at 2250′ yesterday found weak faceted snow near the ground to be reactive. This pit was intentially dug in a thinner area of the snowpack, a place where triggering a deep slab will be more likley. At this elevation (2250′) several crusts are forming within the snowpack which is helping to strengthen the slab and make triggering at this lower elevation less likely. In the higher elevations where drier snow has fallen little is known about how the weak layer and slab are adusting. 

Weather
Sat, December 16th, 2017

Yesterday a storm moved through our region dumping 13 € of snow (1.0 € H2O) at Turnagain Pass and similar amounts in Girdwood. Temperatures remained in the upper 30F’s at seal level and precip fell as rain to about 700′ until early this morning when temps cooled and about an inch of wet snow fell in the lower elevations. Strong Easterly ridge top winds averaged in the 20’s (mph) with some gusts reaching the 70’s mph. Winds decreased early this morning to 10-20mph.

Today expected scattered snow showers with up to 3 € possible. Precip may be in the form of light rain up to 800′. Temperatures could reach the mid 30F’s at 1000′. Southeast ridgetop winds may be gusty this morning, but are expected to depreciate mid-morning to 5-15mph today.  

Tomorrow scattered snow showers are likely and winds are expected to be light to moderate from the East as a weak low moves over the Kenai Peninsula.   A window of clear weather is forecasted for Monday before another round of rain and snow moves through our region. At this point there is a lot of uncertainty as to what type and how much precipitation we will see next week.  

* Sunburst weather station is down due to loss of battery power.

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

  Temp Avg (F) Snow (in) Water (in) Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′) 31   13   1.0   38  
Summit Lake (1400′) 30   3   0.3   11  
Alyeska Mid (1700′) 30   13   1.16   31  

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

  Temp Avg (F) Wind Dir Wind Avg (mph) Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′) *n/a   *n/a      *n/a   *n/a    
Seattle Ridge (2400′) 26   SE   20   76  
Observations
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Riding Areas
Updated Sat, September 23rd, 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
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Placer River
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Skookum Drainage
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Turnagain Pass
Closed
Scheduled opening on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving per Chugach National Forest plan. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Twentymile
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Seward District
Carter Lake
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Lost Lake Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Primrose Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Resurrection Pass Trail
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Snug Harbor
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
South Fork Snow River Corridor
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.
Summit Lake
Closed
Scheduled opening per Chugach National Forest plan December 1. Subject to adequate snow cover.

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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.