Turnagain Pass
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Travel is not recommended today due to HIGH avalanche danger at all elevations. Large natural avalanches 2-3′ thick are very likely in the upper elevations of Turnagain Pass and Girdwood due to strong winds and heavy snow above 2000′. Wet avalanches are likely in the mid elevations and in channeled terrain below treeline.
PORTAGE: In Portage Valley where 4-5′ of snow is expected in the upper elevations avalanches could run their full length to valley bottoms. Avoid being near any avalanche paths.
SUMMIT LAKE: In Summit Lake where a very weak and shallow snowpack exists, storm slabs releasing naturally 1-2′ deep are likely today.
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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. |
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 |
Today is a good day to avoid the mountains. Natural avalanche activity is expected in the mid and upper elevations where heavy snow and strong winds are forming storm slabs. Wet avalanches are expected in the mid elevations and may run to valley bottom in channeled terrain like Portage Valley. Ridgetop winds on Sunburst have already reached 60mph’s with a gust to 92mph at 6am. Rain/snow line is expected to fluctuate between 1000’ and 2000’ where a few inches of wet snow has alreday fallen this morning. In the Alpine above 2500′ Turnagain Pass and Girdwood could see an additional 15-24” of snow by late evening (1.5” – 2.0” of SWE.) Portage Valley will see double or triple this amount.
Sadly we don’t have much of a snowpack below 2000′. Keep your fingers crossed temperatures stay on the cooler side and Treeline Zone receives some accumulation from this storm. If this is the case be aware of a slick bed surface above 1500’ where human triggered wet avalanches are likely. Travel is not recommended in avalanche terrain at all elevations and includes all run-out zone where avalanches from above may slide.
Strong winds and at least a foot of snow is expected in the upper elevations of Summit Lake today. A very thin snowpack and poor structure exist in this zone and natural avalanche activity is likely. Remember any obvious clues of instability are a reminder to avoid avalanche terrain; heavy precip, above freezing temps, blowing snow, natural avalanches, shooting cracks, and whumpfing. All of these are expected.
This is a graphical model from the National Weather Service for total amount of precip (Snow Water Equivelent) through 9pm tonight
A view of Seattle Ridge on Monday which shows very little snow below 1500′
As of 6:30am temps were staying just cool enough for precip to fall as snow at the road level (1000′) of Turnagian Pass.
Yesterday: Light rain was observed below 1500′. Temperaturs were in the upper 30F’s near sea level and rain/snow line hovered between 1000′ and 1500′ most of the day. By mid afternoon East ridgetops winds increased to moderate in the afternoon and were strong by early evening. A few inches of wet snow and 0.5 € rain fell below 1000′ over the last 24 hrs, with most of it falling after midnight.
Today: A fast moving low pressure system is pumping a lot of moisture into the Kenai Mountains and Western Chugach today. Strong Easterly ridgetop winds will remain in the 40-60mph range with gusts in 70-80s mph. Precipitation will fall as heavy rain in the lower elevations and rain/snow line may fluctuate between 1000′ and 2000′ throughout the day. At least 2′ of snow is expected in the upper elevations of Turnagain Pass and Girdwood and 4-5′ of snow is expected in Portage Valley above 2500′.
Tomorrow: An active weather pattern will continue tomorrow and into early next week as a series of low-pressure systems and Southerly flow continue to impact our regions. A second storm will arrive tomorrow bringing a second round of warm temps, heavy precip and strong winds through Sunday morning. Unfortuantely this precip will be falling as heavy rain in the lower elevations.
Temp Avg (F) | Snow (in) | Water (in) | Snow Depth (in) | |
Center Ridge (1880′) | 34 | 3 | .5 | 16 |
Summit Lake (1400′) | 32 | 1 | .3 | 4 |
Alyeska Mid (1700′) | 33 | 3 | .75 | 3 |
Temp Avg (F) | Wind Dir | Wind Avg (mph) | Wind Gust (mph) | |
Sunburst (3812′) | 26 | ENE | 27 | 92 |
Seattle Ridge (2400′) | 30 | ESE | 16 | 44 |
Date | Region | Location | Observer |
---|---|---|---|
10/27/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan | Michael Kerst |
10/21/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Turnagain Pass Road Observation | Trevor Clayton |
10/19/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan – Below Todds Run | Andy Moderow |
10/18/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Taylor Pass | Eli Neuffer |
10/15/24 | Turnagain | Observation: Tincan Common | John Sykes Forecaster |
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 |
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