Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Wed, October 5th, 2022			Winter 2023 is Coming… The days are getting shorter, the mountains whiter, and early season events are lining up! Upcoming Events: Oct 20, 7pm: MSP Ski Film! MatchStick Productions – “Anywhere from Here” Showing Thursday, October 20 at 7pm at the West Anchorage High School Auditorium. Doors open 30min prior. Tickets HERE ($20 in advance and $25 [Read More]
Mon, May 2nd, 2022	Spring Conditions		The CNFAIC is no longer issuing avalanche advisories for Turnagain Pass and surrounding regions. Although the forecast season has finished, the avalanche season has not – please see below for some tips on NAVIGATING THE BACKCOUNTRY IN SPRINGTIME. Current conditions? Keep tabs on our Observation Page! We will be posting any observations/reports sent in to us. “Like” the [Read More]
Sun, May 1st, 2022	Storm Slabs	Wet Slab	The avalanche danger is HIGH as a storm continues to unfold. Heavy precipitation and strong winds will make large storm slab avalanches 1-4′ deep very likely. With over an inch of rain on snow up to 1800′, large wet slab avalanches will also be likely. These avalanches have the potential to run into valley bottoms and over [Read More]
Sat, April 30th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Wet Slab	The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE as stormy weather starts to pick up during the day. Strong winds and increasing snowfall will make it likely a person will be able to trigger a wind slab avalanche up to a foot deep by the end of the day at higher elevations. Pay close attention to changing [Read More]
Thu, April 28th, 2022	Spring Conditions	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger will start out LOW today but will quickly rise to HIGH as the snow surface melts and springtime natural avalanches become likely on east, south, and west facing terrain. With clouds moving into the area around 4 am it is uncertain how much the snow surface refroze last night, and the timing of the surface crust [Read More]
Tue, April 26th, 2022	Spring Conditions	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE for naturally occurring large wet springtime avalanches. These can be wet loose, wet slab or glide avalanches. They can be very dangerous and are releasing in high-use areas. Additionally, triggering a lingering slab avalanche 1-3′ thick on upper elevation northerly facing slopes is still possible. Cornice falls will also be [Read More]
Sun, April 24th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Wet Slab	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′. Storm slabs and wind slabs 1-3+’ deep that formed during the storm over the past 2 days are the primary avalanche problems and are likely to be triggered by a person and possible for natural triggering. Cautious route finding and careful snowpack evaluation is recommended before entering avalanche terrain today. [Read More]
Sat, April 23rd, 2022	Wet Slab	Storm Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE as a warm storm has brought over 2′ of snow to upper elevations and rain on snow to lower elevations, making large human triggered avalanches likely and natural avalanches possible. Two days of above-freezing temperatures will make it likely we could see very large wet slab avalanches failing deeper in the snowpack. [Read More]
Fri, April 22nd, 2022	Wet Slab	Storm Slabs	The avalanche danger is rising to CONSIDERABLE as strong wind, rain and snow impact the region. Up to a foot of new snow could accumulate by this evening in the high terrain while rain on snow will destabilize the mid and lower elevations. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely. These will [Read More]
Thu, April 21st, 2022	Wind Slabs	Wet Slab	The avalanche danger will start out LOW at all elevations, but will rise to MODERATE above 2500′ this afternoon as winds pick up ahead of a storm system entering the area. In the afternoon and evening fresh wind slabs up to a foot deep are likely to build at upper elevations in shaded areas with dry snow available [Read More]
Tue, April 19th, 2022	Normal Caution	Glide Avalanches	A LOW avalanche danger remains over the region. Although it will be unlikely a person will trigger an avalanche, there are still concerns to be aware of. Cornices are very large and can be triggered by people along ridgelines. If the sun heats up the solar aspects enough this afternoon/evening, wet loose avalanches may be [Read More]
Sun, April 17th, 2022	Normal Caution	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is LOW, but that does not mean avalanches are impossible today. There is still a very small chance of finding isolated and stubborn wind slabs in upper elevations, and loose wet avalanches will become increasingly likely as the snow surface heats up later in the day. If you plan on accessing steep terrain [Read More]
Sat, April 16th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2500′. Lingering wind slabs created over the past 24 hours could be up to a foot deep and are possible for a person to trigger. These should be isolated to upper elevation ridgelines, cross loaded gullies, and convex rollovers. If the clouds break up and the sun comes out today [Read More]
Fri, April 15th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Glide Avalanches	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Conditions are going to be more reactive today than they have been for the past few days, as a bump in winds will make it possible to trigger wind slab avalanches up to a foot deep. Watch out for heightened avalanche conditions on steep, wind-loaded terrain. The danger is LOW below [Read More]
Thu, April 14th, 2022	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations and human triggered avalanches are unlikely. However, glide avalanches have been releasing naturally along southern aspects in Turnagain Pass this week and areas with existing glide cracks or recent debris from glide avalanches should be avoided. Other hazards to pay attention to today are cornice fall and wet loose [Read More]
Wed, April 13th, 2022	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger remains LOW on all aspects and elevations. Even though it’s unlikely a person will trigger an avalanche, there are still some key hazards to look for. Limit any exposure under glide cracks, these have been releasing into avalanches over the past 3 days. Continue to give cornices a very wide berth; they [Read More]
Tue, April 12th, 2022	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger remains LOW over the forecast region. Although it is unlikely to trigger an avalanche, there are still dangerous wintertime mountain hazards. Be sure to give cornices a bigger berth than you might think. People have been able to trigger these over the past few days. Glide avalanches are starting to occur. We [Read More]
Mon, April 11th, 2022	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger is LOW. It is unlikely (not impossible) that a person can trigger an avalanche. Keep an eye out for pockets of unstable snow on upper elevation northerly slopes, isolated wind slabs in the alpine, and increasing likelihood for wet loose avalanches as the snow heats up later in the day. Be mindful of [Read More]
Sun, April 10th, 2022	Normal Caution		There is an overall LOW avalanche danger for the Turnagain Pass forecast region. Low danger does not mean no danger and there are a few things to keep a lookout for. First, small slabs might still be triggered on steep upper elevation northerly aspects. Cornices, give these an extra wide berth, they are large, warming [Read More]
Sat, April 9th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Northwest winds continue to build reactive wind slabs, making it possible for a person to trigger an avalanche 1-2′ deep. There is also a smaller chance of triggering a deeper avalanche on a layer that was buried last week. Carefully evaluate the snow for signs of instability before getting into [Read More]
Fri, April 8th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′ today. Light snowfall with increasing northwesterly winds through the day will build fresh wind slabs, making it possible to trigger avalanches up to a foot deep on wind loaded slopes. There is a smaller chance of triggering an avalanche on deeper weak layers buried 1-2′ deep. The danger is LOW [Read More]
Thu, April 7th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	There is a MODERATE avalanche danger on all aspects above 1,000’ today. It will be possible to trigger a lingering wind slab 12-18” deep on wind loaded slopes given the moderate southeasterly winds that we’ve seen impact the core advisory area between Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Additional concerns include a crust/ weak layer combo [Read More]
Wed, April 6th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger remains MODERATE above 1,000′ on all aspects. Fresh wind slab avalanches, up to a foot in depth, will be possible to trigger on wind loaded slopes. This is due to sustained moderate southeasterly ridgetop winds that began yesterday evening. There also remains a chance a person could trigger a larger slab, up [Read More]
Tue, April 5th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today on all aspects above 1,000′. Watch for fresh wind slabs that could form with 2-4″ of new snow and moderate southerly winds. These could be in the 6-10″ deep range and be possible to trigger on wind loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Additionally, there is still a chance [Read More]
Mon, April 4th, 2022	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Light winds and snow showers later in the day should not be enough to elevate the avalanche danger, but it is still possible to trigger an avalanche around a foot deep where last week’s snow is sitting on weak surfaces. There is also still a lingering possibility of triggering [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.

Date	25/26	24/25	23/24	22/23	21/22
11/25	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
11/26	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
11/27	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
11/28	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
11/29	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
11/30	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/01	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
12/02	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
12/03	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Persistent Slabs
12/04	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution	Persistent Slabs
12/05	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/06	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/07	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/08	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/09	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/10	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
12/11	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/12	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/13	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/14	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/15	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/16	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/17	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/18	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/19	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/20	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/21	No Rating	No Rating	Dry Loose	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/22	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/23	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/24	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/25	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/26	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/27	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
12/28	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/29	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
12/30	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution
12/31	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/01	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/02	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/03	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/04	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/05	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution
01/06	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Normal Caution
01/07	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Normal Caution
01/08	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/09	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/10	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
01/11	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/12	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/13	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Deep Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
01/14	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/15	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/16	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
01/17	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/18	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/19	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/20	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/21	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/22	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/23	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/24	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
01/25	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
01/26	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/27	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
01/28	No Rating	No Rating	Glide Avalanches	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/29	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/30	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
01/31	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/01	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/02	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/03	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/04	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/05	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/06	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/07	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/08	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
02/09	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/10	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/11	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/12	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/13	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/14	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/15	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/16	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
02/17	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/18	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/19	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/20	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Slab	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
02/21	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/22	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
02/23	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/24	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
02/25	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
02/26	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/27	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
02/28	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/01	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution
03/02	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/03	No Rating	No Rating	Normal Caution	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/04	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/05	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/06	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wet Loose	Storm Slabs
03/07	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wet Loose	Storm Slabs
03/08	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wet Loose	Storm Slabs
03/09	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/10	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution	Wind Slabs
03/11	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution	Wind Slabs
03/12	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution	Wind Slabs
03/13	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution	Persistent Slabs
03/14	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution	Wind Slabs
03/15	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
03/16	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/17	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/18	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/19	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/20	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/21	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
03/22	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs
03/23	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/24	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/25	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/26	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/27	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
03/28	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
03/29	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Persistent Slabs
03/30	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs
03/31	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
04/01	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
04/02	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs
04/03	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
04/04	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs
04/05	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs
04/06	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs
04/07	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
04/08	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs
04/09	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Storm Slabs	Wind Slabs
04/10	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution
04/11	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution
04/12	No Rating	No Rating	Storm Slabs	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution
04/13	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Storm Slabs	Normal Caution
04/14	No Rating	No Rating	Persistent Slabs	Wind Slabs	Normal Caution
04/15	No Rating	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs
04/16	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs
04/17	No Rating	No Rating	No Rating	No Rating	Normal Caution
04/18	No Rating	No Rating	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	No Rating
04/19	No Rating	No Rating	No Rating	No Rating	Normal Caution
04/20	No Rating	No Rating	Wet Loose	Deep Persistent Slabs	No Rating