Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Sun, April 3rd, 2022	Persistent Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′. It is likely a person will trigger an avalanche failing below the snow that fell on Friday, which buried weak surfaces and will still be reactive today. There are also deeper weak layers lurking 3-6′ deep that have the potential to make very large avalanches. This dangerous combination of avalanche [Read More]
Sat, April 2nd, 2022	Storm Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′. Wind slabs and storm slabs 1-3′ deep are very likely to be triggered by a person and natural avalanches are possible. The new snow over the past 24 hours is not bonding well to the old snow surface, with widespread avalanche activity on small terrain features near treeline yesterday. Deeper [Read More]
Fri, April 1st, 2022	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′. Strong winds and light snowfall are once again burying weak surfaces, making it likely a person can trigger an avalanche 6-12″ deep in Turnagain Pass and Girdwood, and up to 2-3′ deep by the end of the day in Portage and Placer. In addition to the potential for avalanches in [Read More]
Thu, March 31st, 2022	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2500′. Moderate east winds are building fresh wind slabs up to a foot deep at upper elevations that are likely to be triggered by a person and possible for natural avalanches. The potential to trigger a very large avalanche on a deeper weak layer also exists, with multiple layers of buried [Read More]
Wed, March 30th, 2022	Deep Persistent Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE on all aspects above 1,000′. Triggering a very large slab avalanche over 3 feet deep is possible. These slabs could be triggered remotely and could release over an entire slope creating a very large and dangerous slide. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential. Additionally, wet loose avalanches are likely [Read More]
Tue, March 29th, 2022	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1,000′ on all aspects. This is A HEADS UP SNOWPACK as large deadly avalanches could be triggered by people. After a week of snow resulting in 4-6+ feet at the mid and upper elevations with strong easterly ridgetop winds, the mountains need time to adjust to the load. Due to [Read More]
Mon, March 28th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is HIGH at all elevations, and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Another storm is impacting the forecast area today adding stress to an already stressed out snowpack, with potential for very large natural and human triggered avalanches. The consequences of being involved with this type of avalanche are dire, and it is [Read More]
Sun, March 27th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 1000′, and there are two big concerns for today. Winds are expected to increase during the day, making it likely a person will be able to trigger an avalanche where the wind is building sensitive slabs 1-2′ deep or deeper. The other, and potentially more dangerous, avalanche problem is the possibility [Read More]
Sat, March 26th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger remains HIGH at all elevations today and an AVALANCHE WARNING has been issued through 6 pm Saturday, March 26th. Over the past three days the forecast area has received roughly 3.5 to 5.5′ (yes, feet) of new snow with strong winds averaging 20-40 mph and gusts up to 80 mph. We recommend avoiding [Read More]
Fri, March 25th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is HIGH for a second day in a row and an AVALANCHE WARNING remains in effect. This is due to heavy snowfall and strong winds in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass, Girdwood Valley, Portage Valley, and other areas on the Kenai. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on all slopes 30 degrees and steeper – [Read More]
Thu, March 24th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is HIGH at all elevations. A powerful storm is forecast to produce up to 30+” of snowfall across the forecast area over the next 24 hours, with 10-16″ of snow having already fallen over the past 24 hours. Human triggered avalanches 2-4′ deep are very likely and natural avalanches are likely, especially in treeline [Read More]
Wed, March 23rd, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger will be rising to CONSIDERABLE through today in the upper elevations. Increasing easterly ridgetop winds, with a few additional inches of new snow, will be forming new wind slabs. These could be up to a foot thick, easy for people to trigger, and could release naturally. At elevations above 1,000′ there is [Read More]
Tue, March 22nd, 2022	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects above 1,000′. Triggering a slab avalanche that fails on a buried layer of surface hoar between 1 and 2 feet deep is still possible. Additionally, watch for fresh wind slabs to be forming in the upper elevations due to a bump in easterly ridgetop winds accompanied with [Read More]
Mon, March 21st, 2022	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects above 1,000′. Triggering a slab avalanche between 1-2′ thick remains possible due to a layer of buried surface hoar. These avalanches are most likely to occur on shaded slopes, but can also be triggered on southerly facing slopes later in the day when sun crusts warm. Wet [Read More]
Sun, March 20th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. It is possible a person will trigger an avalanche 1-2′ deep where yesterday’s winds created sensitive slabs with the snow that fell during the second half of the week. In addition to these lingering wind slabs, there are two weak layers of buried surface hoar in the upper 1-3′ of [Read More]
Sat, March 19th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2500′. Consistent moderate winds over the past 24 hours have created fresh wind slabs along ridgelines and cross loaded gullies that are likely to be triggered by a person and possible for natural avalanches. These wind slabs may be sitting on top of a layer of buried surface hoar from 3.16.22 [Read More]
Fri, March 18th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Moderate winds and a steady trickle of snow over the past two days will make it possible for a person to trigger a wind slab avalanche up to a foot deep. This new snow is falling on a snowpack with two different layers of buried surface hoar in the [Read More]
Thu, March 17th, 2022	Storm Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Wind slabs at upper elevations along ridgelines and cross loaded gullies are possible for a person to trigger. Storm slab avalanches in protected terrain are also possible in areas that receive higher snowfall totals such as Girdwood, Portage, or Placer. An older layer of buried surface hoar from 3/2 is [Read More]
Wed, March 16th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all aspects above 2,500′ due to strong east winds with several inches of new snow. Fresh wind slab avalanches in the 1-2′ deep range will be likely for people to trigger and may release naturally in the upper elevations. Winds may also build slabs below 2,500′ and a MODERATE [Read More]
Tue, March 15th, 2022	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects above 2,500′. It remains possible a person could trigger an avalanche 1-2′ deep on a weak layer of buried surface hoar at the upper elevations. Additionally, watch for lingering wind slabs up to a foot deep that formed Sunday. The danger is LOW below 2,500′, where triggering an avalanche [Read More]
Mon, March 14th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. A period of elevated winds yesterday created fresh wind slabs at upper elevations that could be up to 1′ deep and are possible for a person to trigger today. This fresh wind loading occurred on top of buried persistent weak layers that can be difficult to identify in the snowpack [Read More]
Sun, March 13th, 2022	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. It is possible a person can trigger an avalanche 1-2′ deep on a weak layer of buried surface hoar that is present throughout the advisory area. The layer was buried 11 days ago, but with two near-misses involving human-triggered avalanches in the past two days, it is clearly still cause [Read More]
Sat, March 12th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Lingering wind slabs 1-2′ deep are possible for human triggering today and will most likely be found at upper elevations along ridgelines and cross loaded gullies. Larger avalanches releasing on persistent weak layers are also possible, so careful evaluation of the snowpack is recommended before entering avalanche terrain. Wet loose [Read More]
Fri, March 11th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 1000′. Light snow and moderate winds over the past 48 hours have made it possible for a person to trigger an avalanche up to 1-2′ deep. The most likely places to trigger an avalanche will be near ridgelines, convex rolls, and steep gullies. There is also a layer of buried surface [Read More]
Thu, March 10th, 2022	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above 2500′. Over the past 24 hours 2-6″ of new snow and moderate winds have created fresh wind slabs up to 2′ deep that are likely to be triggered by a person and possible for natural avalanches. Another 2-4″ of snow is expected today with sustained moderate winds which will continue to [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