Turnagain Pass Archives

Date	Problem #1	Problem #2	The Bottom Line
Sun, October 18th, 2020			WELCOME to the 2020/2021 winter season!! The snow-line is creeping down the mountainsides and that means the CNFAIC is getting ready for another fantastic winter season! The Avalanche Center is gearing up currently and we will begin issuing intermittent snow, weather and avalanche updates as conditions warrant through mid-November. Daily avalanche forecasts are planned to begin [Read More]
Sat, April 25th, 2020	Spring Conditions		The CNFAIC has wrapped up operations and will no longer be posting conditions updates. Thank you to everyone for tuning in!! It was an interestingly chilly winter with many cold outflow wind events and a snowpack which struggled to stay near 50% of normal. Please see more in our Annual Report, which can be found [Read More]
Sat, April 18th, 2020	Spring Conditions		Saturday, Apr 18th UPDATE: DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS continue in the backcountry today and through the weekend. Travel in avalanche terrain is NOT recommended, avalanches can run into valley bottoms and be very large and dangerous. Yesterday was another very active avalanche day. The snowpack continued to ‘fall apart’ with multiple large to very large wet [Read More]
Fri, April 17th, 2020			Friday, Apr 17th UPDATE: DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS exist in the backcountry today and through the weekend. Travel in avalanche terrain is NOT recommended, avalanches can run into valley bottoms and much further than expected. Hiking trails, such as Crow Pass and Byron Glacier, are threatened from avalanches occurring above. HEADS UP! Yesterday several large and [Read More]
Tue, April 14th, 2020			Operations UPDATE: The CNFAIC Staff would like to thank everyone for their support during the past two weeks of suspended forecasts. We will be issuing our Springtime Tips this weekend. This weekend also marks the end of our regularly scheduled forecast season. We will continue to post observations and highlight any significant rise in avalanche [Read More]
Mon, March 30th, 2020	Normal Caution		As of Monday, March 30th, we have suspended backcountry avalanche forecasts for the Turnagain Pass region. Please see the official statement below. The avalanche danger has been LOW for the past two days and triggering an avalanche was unlikely; this trend is expected to continue until mid-week (April 1st) with clear and cool weather in [Read More]
Sun, March 29th, 2020	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger remains LOW in the backcountry surrounding Turnagain Pass. Triggering a slab avalanche or wet loose avalanche is unlikely. Watch for glide cracks and limit exposure under them. As always, give cornices a wide berth. [Read More]
Sat, March 28th, 2020	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger remains LOW in the backcountry surrounding Turnagain Pass. Triggering a slab avalanche or wet avalanche is unlikely. Watch for glide cracks and limit exposure under them. A few glide avalanches released two days ago. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth. [Read More]
Fri, March 27th, 2020	Normal Caution		The avalanche danger is LOW today as cooling temperatures have frozen much of the snowpack in place. On upper elevation northerly aspects where a surface crust doesn’t exist, watch for lingering wind slabs. Additionally, glide cracks are opening and these could release despite the cooler weather. SUMMIT LAKE: This area harbors a shallower snowpack with [Read More]
Thu, March 26th, 2020	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger is generally LOW today but could rise to MODERATE in the afternoon for triggering a wet loose avalanche on solar aspects in lower elevation terrain. Pay attention to changing surface conditions. In addition, there is still a chance of triggering a lingering wind slab on wind loaded slopes in the Alpine. As [Read More]
Wed, March 25th, 2020	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	Warm and wet weather moving in will keep the avalanche danger MODERATE for triggering a wet loose avalanche below 2,500′. Above this, triggering a lingering wind slab is still possible. Additionally, give cornices a wide berth. SUMMIT LAKE: This area harbors a shallower snowpack with weak snow in the mid and base of the pack. [Read More]
Tue, March 24th, 2020	Wet Loose	Wind Slabs	The avalanche danger will become CONSIDERABLE at all elevations today as air temperatures rise and the direct sun begins to impact slopes. Triggering a wet loose avalanche will be likely on steeper slopes as the surface snow warms. Also, winds from the past few days have created windslabs 1-2′ thick in leeward terrain that will [Read More]
Mon, March 23rd, 2020	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger is MODERATE today. The outflow (northwest) wind event that started Saturday night will continue through the day. Human triggered wind slabs 1-2′ thick are possible in steep wind loaded terrain. Watch for blowing snow and wind effect. Late in the the day there is a chance of small wet loose avalanches on [Read More]
Sun, March 22nd, 2020	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. 2-6 inches of snow yesterday and 15-30mph northwest winds today are likely to create new wind slabs on leeward terrain. Small sluffs in the new snow are expected in steeper terrain. Wet loose avalanches will be possible to trigger in lower elevations where winds are calm. SUMMIT LAKE: Increased [Read More]
Sat, March 21st, 2020	Wind Slabs	Wet Loose	The avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE today due to several inches of new snow and increased easterly winds. Watch for shallow fresh wind slabs to form on wind loaded slopes at the higher elevations. Small sluffs in the new snow are also expected. In the lower elevations, wet loose avalanches will be possible to [Read More]
Fri, March 20th, 2020	Normal Caution		A generally LOW avalanche danger exists in the mountains surrounding Turnagain Pass. Low doesn’t mean no danger and there are several ‘Normal Caution’ issues to keep in mind. Watch for wet loose avalanches on any steep southerly slope that heats up this afternoon. Also, watch for dry sluffs on steep shaded slopes and shallow wind [Read More]
Thu, March 19th, 2020	Wet Loose	Persistent Slabs	Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Human triggered wet loose avalanches will be possible if sun crusts deteriorate on solar aspects, especially in steep rocky areas. Triggering a dry loose avalanche is possible on protected shaded aspects. As always give cornices and glide cracks a wide berth. Pay attention to changing surface conditions. There is a [Read More]
Wed, March 18th, 2020	Wind Slabs	Persistent Slabs	Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE with increasing northwest winds and clearing skies. Pay attention to changing surface conditions. It will be possible to trigger small wind slabs on leeward aspects, wet loose avalanches on protected solar aspects and dry loose avalanches on protected shaded aspects. As always give cornices and glide cracks a wide [Read More]
Tue, March 17th, 2020	Normal Caution		Today the avalanche danger is LOW. A low danger does not mean no danger. Normal caution is advised for loose wet avalanches, cornices, thin wind slabs, and glide cracks. Loose dry avalanches are possible for a human to trigger on wind protected and shaded aspects. Remain aware of changing surface conditions. SUMMIT LAKE to SEWARD: Extra [Read More]
Mon, March 16th, 2020	Wet Loose	Persistent Slabs	Today the avalanche danger is LOW this morning and could increase to CONSIDERABLE in the afternoon with sun effect and warm air temperatures. Pay attention to changing surface conditions. In the heat of the day natural moist loose snow avalanches are possible and human triggered sluffs will be likely. On steep slopes protected from the [Read More]
Sun, March 15th, 2020	Persistent Slabs		Today the avalanche danger is LOW and could rise to MODERATE as the sun and increasing temperatures penetrate the snowpack. As solar heating occurs, older slabs 1′-2′ thick and moist sluffs could become easier to initiate on steep slopes. On steep slopes protected from the sun and wind, loose snow is expected to be easily [Read More]
Sat, March 14th, 2020	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remains MODERATE for triggering a slab avalanche 1-2′ thick. These are most likely to be found on the steeper slopes and could be old wind slabs or simply soft slabs that are sitting on weak facets or buried surface hoar. Slopes seeing strong solar heating are more likely to be triggered. Easily [Read More]
Fri, March 13th, 2020	Persistent Slabs		A MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations. It remains possible for a person to trigger a slab avalanche around 1-2 feet thick. Steep wind loaded terrain is the most likely place to trigger a slab. Slabs may be sitting on buried surface hoar, making them break out larger than expected. Additionally, watch for surface [Read More]
Thu, March 12th, 2020	Persistent Slabs		The avalanche danger remain MODERATE at all elevations. Triggering a slab around 1-2′ deep that fails on buried surface hoar is possible, especially in steep wind loaded terrain. Watch for sluffing on steep protected slopes and signs of surface heating on solar aspects. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. SUMMIT LAKE to LOST LAKE and SEWARD: South of Turnagain [Read More]
Wed, March 11th, 2020	Wind Slabs	Deep Persistent Slabs	The avalanche danger is MODERATE at all elevations. With another day of northwest winds, watch for blowing snow and wind affected surface snow. Triggering a wind slab around 1-2′ deep in steep wind loaded terrain is possible. Additionally, there is still a chance of triggering a deep persistent slab. Watch for sluffing on steep protected [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