Thu, December 06, 2018 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Thu, December 6th, 2018

Alpine

Above 2,500'

2 - Moderate

Treeline

1,000'-2,500'

1 - Low

Below Treeline

Below 1,000'

0 - No Rating

1 - Low

2 - Moderate

3 - Considerable

4 - High

5 - Extreme


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
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

Overnight moderate Easterly ridgetop winds were accompanied by 2-3” of new snow in the upper elevations. Be aware of fresh shallow wind slabs on steep leeward features. Earlier in the week moderate winds re-distributed the snow in the alpine and older wind slabs may be hard and hidden. Pillowed snow, cracking and hollow, drum-like sounds are clues wind slabs may be reactive. Yesterday on Tenderfoot observers noted recent wind slab formation on top of weak faceted snow. Wind slabs in the Summit Lake area may be more reactive due to a weaker foundation. As always evaluate the terrain for consequences and avoid terrain traps like gullies, rocks, trees below. Also keep in mind very little snow exists below 2000’.

Wind drifted snow on Sunburst from Monday (12-3-18)

Avalanche Problem 2

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

Size of Avalanches

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

In the upper elevations we are keeping tabs on a thin layer of buried surface hoar sitting 1-3′ below the surface. This layer has been documented in a number of snowpits above 2500’ over the last week. In many places this layer is laying down and unreactive, where in other places it may be upright and still able to propagate. Overnight 3” of snow fell above 2500’ in Turnagain Pass and Girdwood. This isn’t enough weight to be concerned about natural activity, but it could be adding some stress to the snowpack. As always use safe travel protocol and obvious clues like ‘whumpfing’ may not be present.

*Also be aware of a shallow snowpack with weak faceted snow near the ground in the Summit Lake area. Persistent slabs may be more reactive in this zone and could be large enough to bury a person on a large connected slope.

Surface hoar found 2′ below the surface on Sunburst on 12-3-18

In this area there wasn’t much of a slab, but be aware of facets under wind drifted snow in Summit Lake. This structure was found in most hand pits above 2500′ on Tenderfoot.

Weather

Thu, December 6th, 2018

Yesterday: Temperatures increased from mid-20F’s to mid-30F’s in the mid-elevations. Light rain started falling below 1000′ yesterday and 2-3 € of new snow fell in the upper elevation overnight. In Portage where precip totals are typically higher 0.5 € of rain fell near Bear Valley. Ridgetop winds were moderate from the East 15-35mph overnight.

Today: Temperatures will remain in the mid to upper-30F’s near sea level and rain snowline is expected to be around 1300′. Precipitation below this elevation will fall as light rain (up to .15 € of water) and another 1-2 € of snow is possible in upper elevations. Easterly ridgetop winds have already started to decrease into the 5-15mph range, but will increase again this evening.

Tomorrow: Get ready as a fast moving system moves into Prince William Sound and with it another round of strong winds, warm temps and a period of heavy rain for our region. Expect above freezing temps in the lower to mid-elevations with rain/snow line around 1500′. Easterly winds will build overnight into sustained 30-40’s mph ridgetop winds with gusts up to 50’s mph.

* Warm temps and winds have finally freed up the Seattle Ridge Anemometer. Wind data is from 12pm – 6am.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	35	3	0.3	16
Summit Lake (1400′)	26	trace	0.1	3
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	35	2	0.25	*N/A

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	27	ENE	12	38
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	31	ESE	12	34

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
10/14/24	Turnagain	Avalanche: Tincan	CNFAC Staff
05/13/24	Turnagain	Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South	H Thamm
05/13/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side	Amy Holman
05/12/24	Turnagain	Observation: Warm up Bowl	Tony Naciuk
05/07/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs	A S
04/29/24	Turnagain	Avalanche: Turnagain aerial obs	Tully Hamer
04/27/24	Turnagain	Observation: Johnson Pass	Noah Mery
04/23/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Sunny Side	Travis SMITH
04/21/24	Turnagain	Observation: Bertha Creek	Anonymous
04/20/24	Turnagain	Avalanche: Spokane Creek	Schauer/ Mailly Forecaster

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