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ARCHIVED - Forecasts expire after 24 hours.
Issued
Fri, March 2nd, 2018 - 7:00AM
Expires
Sat, March 3rd, 2018 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Heather Thamm
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

The avalanche danger is  MODERATE  above 1000′ where triggering a wind slab will be possible.   Additionally,  old weak layers deeper in the snowpack may be triggered, creating a larger avalanche.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.  

**If headed South of Turnagain Pass be aware of recent avalanche activity in Summit Lake and Lost Lake zones. For observations from Summit Lake click HERE and Lost Lake click HERE.  

Fri, March 2nd, 2018
Alpine
Above 2,500'
2 - Moderate
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
2 - Moderate
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
1 - Low
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
  • Wind Slabs
    Wind Slabs
  • Certain
    Very Likely
    Likely
    Possible
    Unlikely
    Likelihood
  • Historic (D4-5)
    Very Large (D3)
    Large (D2)
    Small (D1)
    Size
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.

Likelihood of Avalanches
Terms such as "unlikely", "likely", and "certain" are used to define the scale, with the chance of triggering or observing avalanches increasing as we move up the scale. For our purposes, "Unlikely" means that few avalanches could be triggered in avalanche terrain and natural avalanches are not expected. "Certain" means that humans will be able to trigger avalanches on many slopes, and natural avalanches are expected.

Size of Avalanches
Avalanche size is defined by the largest potential avalanche, or expected range of sizes related to the problem in question. Assigned size is a qualitative estimate based on the destructive classification system and requires specialists to estimate the harm avalanches may cause to hypothetical objects located in the avalanche track (AAA 2016, CAA 2014). Under this schema, "Small" avalanches are not large enough to bury humans and are relatively harmless unless they carry people over cliffs or through trees or rocks. Moving up the scale, avalanches become "Large" enough to bury, injure, or kill people. "Very Large" avalanches may bury or destroy vehicles or houses, and "Historic" avalanches are massive events capable of altering the landscape.

Signal Word Size (D scale) Simple Descriptor
Small 1 Unlikely to bury a person
Large 2 Can bury a person
Very Large 3 Can destroy a house
Historic 4 & 5 Can destroy part or all of a village
More info at Avalanche.org

Be aware of wind slabs on a variety of aspects due to unusual wind loading patterns and cross loading. Strong Northwest winds this week have transformed a foot of new snow into variable surfaces. Ridgetops are scoured down to old anti-tracks, sastrugi or wind polished snow. Smooth supportable surfaces where the snow is hollow sounding are suspect, especially if the slope is unsupported. Identify terrain features with a pillow-shaped look where triggering a wind slab could break above you. Shooting cracks may not be present until committed to a slope and the whole slab releases. Several weak layers have been preserved ~2 feet below the surface and could propagate a larger avalanche. (More on this below.) Although the sun is not expected today, keep in mind that its that time of year when radiation can make the snow more reactive on Southerly aspects. 

Scoured ridges and wind pillowed snow on Tincan following the big wing event this week. 

Avalanche Problem 2
  • Persistent Slabs
    Persistent Slabs
  • Certain
    Very Likely
    Likely
    Possible
    Unlikely
    Likelihood
  • Historic (D4-5)
    Very Large (D3)
    Large (D2)
    Small (D1)
    Size
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Likelihood of Avalanches
Terms such as "unlikely", "likely", and "certain" are used to define the scale, with the chance of triggering or observing avalanches increasing as we move up the scale. For our purposes, "Unlikely" means that few avalanches could be triggered in avalanche terrain and natural avalanches are not expected. "Certain" means that humans will be able to trigger avalanches on many slopes, and natural avalanches are expected.

Size of Avalanches
Avalanche size is defined by the largest potential avalanche, or expected range of sizes related to the problem in question. Assigned size is a qualitative estimate based on the destructive classification system and requires specialists to estimate the harm avalanches may cause to hypothetical objects located in the avalanche track (AAA 2016, CAA 2014). Under this schema, "Small" avalanches are not large enough to bury humans and are relatively harmless unless they carry people over cliffs or through trees or rocks. Moving up the scale, avalanches become "Large" enough to bury, injure, or kill people. "Very Large" avalanches may bury or destroy vehicles or houses, and "Historic" avalanches are massive events capable of altering the landscape.

Signal Word Size (D scale) Simple Descriptor
Small 1 Unlikely to bury a person
Large 2 Can bury a person
Very Large 3 Can destroy a house
Historic 4 & 5 Can destroy part or all of a village
More info at Avalanche.org

Triggering an avalanche 2+ feet thick is possible due to several weak layers buried within our snowpack. More potential exists on the Southern end of Turnagain Pass and Summit Lake zone where a shallow and weaker snowpack remains. This was evident on Wednesday during the wind event where numerous large avalanches released naturally near Silvertip Creek and in Summit Lake. In Turnagain Pass we have been tracking several weak layers buried 1-2 feet deep (facets and buried surface hoar) and both have been reactive in stability tests. This structure can be found on all aspects and will be easier to trigger in thinner areas of the snowpack. These slabs could be triggered in softer more protected snow or in places where the snow is harder and more supportable. Assess the terrain for consequences and remember that the bigger the terrain the bigger the consequences. There is still much uncertainty around this avalanche problem. 

Deep Persistent Slabs: Keep in mind that there are deeper persistent layers that could ‘wake up’ if you find the wrong spot above 3,000′ in the Alpine. At these high elevations, old weak layers of facets and buried surface hoar sit in the bottom half of the snowpack. This structure is also more pronounced in places with a thin overall snow cover, such as the South end of Turnagain Pass, the Summit Lake area and Crow Pass. 

Several observers this week have reported collapsing below 2500′ and is likey because of a layer of facets sitting on m/f crust. Photo of W aspect of Cornbiscuit at 2000′

 

 Large connected crown on a Northeast aspect near Silvertip Creek which released naturally some time between Tuesday and Wednesday during the wind event. 

 

Weather
Fri, March 2nd, 2018

Yesterday was cold, clear and sunny. Day time temperatures warmed into the upper teens F’s from single digits at all elevations. Winds were light and variable and no precipitation occurred. Overnight clouds moved into the area and temperatures increased into the low 20F’s.  

Today expect overcast skies and temperatures to remain in the 20F’s in the alpine with cooler temps at valley bottoms creating some valley fog. A few snow flurries may arrive late afternoon and ridge top winds will remain light from the West.  

This weekend low pressure is tracking just North of us and will favor Mat-Su Valley, but we may see a few inches by Saturday. Some uncertainty exists around winds. Depending on how far North the low tracks, we may see an increase in gap winds again in Coastal areas. Temperatures are expected to range from the teens F to mid 20s F. Skies are expected to clear again on Sunday with another storm is expected on Monday night into Tuesday, but again will favor the Northern areas.  

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

  Temp Avg (F) Snow (in) Water (in) Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′) 15   0   0   70  
Summit Lake (1400′) 4   0   0   29  
Alyeska Mid (1700′) 14   0   0   61  

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

  Temp Avg (F) Wind Dir Wind Avg (mph) Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′) 17   W   4   15  
Seattle Ridge (2400′) 16   Variable   3   13  
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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.