Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast
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A MODERATE avalanche danger exists in the Alpine. On the high elevations slopes (above 3,000′) triggering a deep slab avalanche breaking near the ground is possible and may be triggered remotely. Additionally, wind slabs are possible in leeward terrain. Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
The avalanche danger below 2500′ is LOW where the snowpack is predominately thick layers of melt-freeze crust and triggering an avalanche is unlikely.
There is no hazard below 1,000′ due to lack of snow.
*Please remember your safe travel practices! This includes, exposing one person at a time in avalanche terrain, watching your partners, being rescue ready and having an escape route planned.
TONIGHT! CNFAIC Fireside Chat: Avalanche Lessons Learned from Last Season (and a quick look at what’s happening in the snowpack this season). December 21st at Powder Hound Ski Shop in Girdwood, 6:30-8 pm with Aleph Johnston-Bloom. We hope to see you there!
Yesterday a party on Pastoral found the trigger point for a large (D3: could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees) deep slab avalanche. The crown depth was estimated to be around 10 ft. deep. This avalanche was triggered from below as the two were crossing the slope. They reported, “It sounded like a distant explosion when it went, then we heard and felt the snowpack below us drop several inches.” When this was triggered it also sympathetically released a slope approximately half a mile away. Last Friday the forecast said, “This deep persistent slab problem and will be guilty until proven innocent. The 1st person on the slope or the 10th might trigger this type of avalanche. It is a total roll of the dice or Russian roulette set-up. Finding the 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.” The verdict is out. This snowpack set-up is guilty and could be a scary issue for quite a while. The combination of faceted snow on or under a crust near the ground with a stiff slab above makes for an instability that is contiguous over terrain. A collapse of the weak layer in one spot can propagate/communicate a failure across the area. Translation: I step here. It avalanches over there. The way to manage this is to avoid avalanche terrain specifically in the Alpine. Shallow areas are more likely to be trigger points to cause the failure. This avalanche emphasizes paying attention to what is above you, what the terrain you are on is connected to and where other groups are. Thanks to the party involved for sharing details and all the other observations submitted.
Photo: Mike Ausman
Crown photo: Mike Ausman
Photo of debris: Stephen Ellison
Yesterday observers reported stiff wind affected snow in the Alpine. There is still snow to move around and winds are forecasted to be easterly, gusting into the 40s today. Wind slabs will be possible on steep, leeward, loaded slopes. Look for drifting, cracking and pay attention to stiff snow under foot. Even a small wind slab can be very dangerous in high consequence terrain. In addition, give cornices a wide berth. They have been growing with each new snow and loading event.
Wind loading and cornice along -1/Warm-up Bowl.
Yesterday was partly cloudy. Winds were westerly 10-20 gusting into the 30s. Temperatures were in the 20Fs. Overnight skies cleared and temperatures cooled into the low 20Fs and teens as an inversion set-up.
Today will be clear and sunny with some valley fog. Temperatures will be in the teens and low 20s. Winds will be easterly 15-25 gusting into the 40s. They are forecasted to increase tonight into Friday.
Friday will be partly cloudy with a chance of snow. Easterly winds will blow 30-40 mph with gusts into the 50s. Temperatures will be in the mid 20Fs to low 30s. Saturday looks to be partly sunny as the storm track for the weekend has shifted and there is less precipitation forecasted for the advisory area but we may get a few inches for the holiday.
* 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′) | 27 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 16 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 26 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | *n/a | *n/a | *n/a | *n/a |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 22 | W | 8 | 25 |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
05/22/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Nick D'Alessio |
05/12/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan, Sunburst, Magnum, Cornbiscuit | Heather Thamm |
05/07/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Bear Tracks | CNFAIC Staff |
05/05/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seattle Ridge | AS/ WW Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Cornbiscuit | Schauer/ Sturgess Forecaster |
05/02/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Seward Hwy Turnagain Pass | Joel Curtis |
04/30/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Magnum | Ayla, Kit Crosby, Barton |
04/29/23 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | John Sykes |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Taylor Pass/Pastoral | Schauer/ Creighton Forecaster |
04/28/23 | Turnagain | Avalanche: Tincan | Andy Moderow |
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 |
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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.