Turnagain Pass Archives
| Date | Rating | Problem #1 | Problem #2 | The Bottom Line |
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 Storm Slabs
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The avalanche danger is expected to rise to HIGH at all elevations through the course of the day. Heavy snowfall with strong winds beginning around noon and lasting through tomorrow morning will create dangerous avalanche conditions. By this afternoon, natural avalanches up to 2′ deep will be likely and human triggered avalanches very likely if [Read More] | ||
 Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ today. Lingering wind slabs 1-2′ deep from yesterdays strong NW outflow winds are the main concern. It will be possible for a person to trigger a wind slab today and unlikely to see natural avalanches. Common areas to find wind slabs are near upper elevation ridgelines and gully features that [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today for elevations above 1000′. Strong northwest winds are building sensitive wind slabs, making natural avalanches around 2′ deep possible and human-triggered avalanches likely. Today’s dangerous avalanches conditions will require cautious route finding. The most likely places to run into trouble will be just below ridgelines, in steep gullies, or on convex [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE above 1000′ today. Lots of soft snow at the surface combined with moderate to strong NW winds are forming wind slabs 1-2′ deep. These will be likely for a person to trigger and possible for natural avalanches today. Wind slabs are most likely to be found at upper elevations, along ridgelines, and [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1,000′ due to 6-12″ of new snow coupled with strong northwest outflow winds. Natural avalanches will be possible and human triggered avalanches likely. Wind slabs 1-2′ deep are expected on windloaded slopes and sluffs in the light new snow should be prevalent on the steeper slopes. In areas seeing [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′ today as another round of light snow and moderate winds will make it possible to trigger a wind slab avalanche 6-12″ deep. The most dangerous terrain will be steep slopes below ridgelines, convexities, and wind-loaded gullies. The danger is expected to remain LOW below 2500′. Be on the [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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The danger will rise to MODERATE above 2500′ as winds increase this afternoon with a weak system that is expected to bring 1-4″ snow to the area. It will be possible to trigger wind slab avalanches 6-12″ thick, which might be getting big enough to bury a person. Pay attention to changing conditions as the [Read More] | ||
 Normal Caution
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The avalanche danger is LOW at all elevations in the forecast zone. Although triggering a slab avalanche is unlikely, loose snow sluffs could be triggered on steep slopes with loose surface snow. Even in low danger conditions, we have to keep up good travel protocol in the event of a surprise avalanche. [Read More] | ||
 Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′. A layer of sugary facets on the ground at upper elevations could produce avalanches 2-4′ deep, but the chances are decreasing since we have had no significant snowfall this week. Lingering wind slabs up to 1′ deep and dry loose avalanches (aka sluffs) are also possible in steeper terrain. Below [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′ today. Lingering wind slabs up to 1′ deep are still possible for a person to trigger. These are most likely at upper elevations, especially along ridgelines and cross loaded gullies. Additional concerns include loose snow avalanches in steep terrain and a weak layer on the ground that could produce larger [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ today. Light snow on the surface combined with NW outflow winds will form fresh wind slabs up to 1′ deep in upper elevation areas and in areas exposed to gap winds. Human triggered avalanches are possible and natural avalanches are unlikely. Above 3000′ there is a weak layer [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE at the higher elevations, above 2500′. It remains possible a person could trigger a lingering wind slab up to 1-2′ deep. Additionally, we are still concerned a larger avalanche could be triggered, up to 3-4′ deep, due to weak snow at the base of the snowpack. Below 2,500′ the avalanche [Read More] | ||
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′. It is possible a person could trigger an avalanche 2-4′ deep on a layer of facets buried at the ground. There is also a lingering possibility of triggering an avalanche 1-2′ deep where last weekend’s outflow winds buried weak snow on some slopes. Stability is improving, but careful terrain selection [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1000′ today. It is possible a person could trigger an avalanche 1-2′ deep on wind slabs that have formed during the past few days of northwest winds. Be on the lookout for unstable slopes near ridgelines, convex rolls, and in gullies. There is a smaller possibility of triggering a larger [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE at elevations above 1,000′. Triggering a wind slab avalanche formed by the recent NW outflow winds will be possible. These wind slabs are in the 1-2′ deep range and could be found in unusual places on exposed slopes and gullies. Additionally, at elevations above 3,000′, weak snow at the base [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2500′. Fresh wind slabs 1-2′ deep created by NW outflow winds are likely for a person to trigger and possible for natural avalanches. With very light snow on the surface, it will not take very strong winds to transport the snow and build fresh wind slabs. Common areas to find wind [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ and could rise to CONSIDERABLE tonight at the high elevations due to strong northwest winds heading into the region. As winds increase today, it will be possible for a person to trigger a fresh wind slab avalanche up to 2′ deep. The most dangerous locations will be in [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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Happy Thanksgiving!!! The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ today. It is possible to trigger a wind slab 1-2′ deep. Especially at higher elevations near ridgelines, convex rollovers, and gullies. Conditions could change quickly if the winds pick up because there is a lot of dry snow on the surface that could be blown into fresh wind [Read More] | ||
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Wind Slabs
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Persistent Slabs
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. New snow and winds will make it possible for a person to trigger a wind slab avalanche up to 1-2′ deep. The most dangerous locations will be at higher elevations near ridgelines, below convex rolls, and in cross-loaded gullies. There is also a weak layer of snow at the bottom [Read More] | ||
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After a string of clear and unseasonably warm days this week, we are entering a more active storm period this weekend. This stormy weather will increase avalanche danger and is expected to persist through the middle of the week. The intensity of the storm is expected to increase Saturday night and Sunday which means avalanche [Read More] | ||
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This update comes in the middle of a spell of quiet weather, which is expected to persist for a few more days before an upper level high pressure ridge moves out of the area, giving way to more active weather later in the week. For now, there are two main things to watch for if [Read More] | ||
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Weekend Update: A warm storm is impacting our forecast area with strong winds at upper elevations, averaging 30-45 mph with gusts to 70 mph overnight, and rain up to 1500′. Unfortunately the snow line is expected to remain at 1500 – 2200′ throughout the weekend. Storm totals from Friday Nov 11th at 6am to Saturday Nov [Read More] | ||
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Active weather has returned to the Turnagain area. A sustained southerly flow pattern has brought warm temperatures, strong winds and precipitation to our zone. Ridgetop winds have been blowing out of the east at 15-30 mph with gusts of 40-50 mph since yesterday evening. Weather stations are showing 0.5″ of water at Turnagain Pass and [Read More] | ||
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Winter has begun, and we are starting to sort out the characteristics that make up our snowpack. So far it seems like there are three main things to keep in mind if you are trying to get out and enjoy the early season snow: The snowpack is thin and variable. There is about 2′ of snow [Read More] | ||
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Early November Update: And it begins! After a mostly dry October, a cool(ish) storm on November 2nd has brought 12-16 inches of new snow to Turnagain Pass and 12 – 20 inches to the mid and upper elevations in Girdwood Valley. At sea level, there was generally a rain snow/mix. Prior to this, 2-6 inches [Read More] |
Below are archived forecasts for the past 5 seasons with the highest danger rating and Avalanche Problem 1 displayed in the chart. Click on a table cell to read the forecast for that day. Alternatively you can view this page for 10 seasons of data plus embedded observations from that day.