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Issued
Wed, March 15th, 2023 - 7:00AM
Expires
Thu, March 16th, 2023 - 7:00AM
Forecaster
Wendy Wagner
Avalanche risk The Bottom Line

The avalanche danger should rise to MODERATE today as several inches of new snow falls with moderate winds in the Turnagain Pass region. Wind slabs are expected to form in the higher elevations or in exposed areas in the trees. They should be generally small, up to a foot at the most, but possible for us to trigger. Small sluffs could be triggered in the new snow as well. Paying close attention to new snow amounts and wind loading is recommended. Areas with only 2-3″ of snow may not see any rise in danger.

PORTAGE / PLACER: The mountains closer to the Sound should see higher snow amounts and the danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE by this evening. This means natural wind slab and loose snow avalanches could occur.

Special Announcements

Transmission inspection using snowmachines:  Chugach Electric Association will be inspecting the transmission lines along the non-motorized side of the Turnagain Pass (between Tincan and Johnson Pass) using snowmachines on one day between Thursday 3/16 and Tuesday 3/21.

Turnagain Pass Avalanche Awareness Day – this Saturday!
On March 18th swing by the Turnagain Pass moto lot on your way to or from your backcountry ride or ski!! Test your beacon skills, chow down on hot dogs, and bring your questions for CNFAIC forecasters. The Alaska Avalanche School will be there along with a chance to demo snowmachines from Alaska Mining and Diving Supply and Anchorage Yamaha and Polaris. More details HERE

Wed, March 15th, 2023
Alpine
Above 2,500'
2 - Moderate
Avalanche risk
Treeline
1,000'-2,500'
2 - Moderate
Avalanche risk
Below Treeline
Below 1,000'
2 - Moderate
Avalanche risk
0 - No Rating
1 - Low
2 - Moderate
3 - Considerable
4 - High
5 - Extreme
Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk Avalanche risk
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.
Avalanche Problem 1
  • Wind Slabs
    Wind Slabs
  • Aspect/Elevation
  • Certain
    Very Likely
    Likely
    Possible
    Unlikely
    Likelihood
  • Historic (D4-5)
    Very Large (D3)
    Large (D2)
    Small (D1)
    Size
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Aspect/Elevation of the Avalanche Problem
Specialists develop a graphic representation of the potential distribution of a particular avalanche problem across the topography. This aspect/elevation rose is used to indicate where the particular avalanche problem is thought to exist on all elevation aspects. Areas where the avalanche problem is thought to exist are colored grey, and it is less likely to be encountered in areas colored white.

Likelihood of Avalanches
Terms such as "unlikely", "likely", and "certain" are used to define the scale, with the chance of triggering or observing avalanches increasing as we move up the scale. For our purposes, "Unlikely" means that few avalanches could be triggered in avalanche terrain and natural avalanches are not expected. "Certain" means that humans will be able to trigger avalanches on many slopes, and natural avalanches are expected.

Size of Avalanches
Avalanche size is defined by the largest potential avalanche, or expected range of sizes related to the problem in question. Assigned size is a qualitative estimate based on the destructive classification system and requires specialists to estimate the harm avalanches may cause to hypothetical objects located in the avalanche track (AAA 2016, CAA 2014). Under this schema, "Small" avalanches are not large enough to bury humans and are relatively harmless unless they carry people over cliffs or through trees or rocks. Moving up the scale, avalanches become "Large" enough to bury, injure, or kill people. "Very Large" avalanches may bury or destroy vehicles or houses, and "Historic" avalanches are massive events capable of altering the landscape.

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
More info at Avalanche.org

After a two week dry spell, a pattern shift is here bringing a few inches of snowfall today and possibly heavier snowfall on Friday. As the graphic below from the National Weather Service suggests, varying degrees of snow is expected (3-6″ ish) in general with the highest amounts in Portage and Placer Valleys (6-10″). Ridgetop winds have already ramped up overnight and are blowing in the 15-25mph range with stronger gusts from the east.

Avalanche danger will depend on 1) how much new snow falls and 2) how strong the wind blows. With such meager snow amounts, the most likely avalanche type will be wind slabs where winds are blowing the new snow, and possibly some old soft snow, into slabs. These are likely to be on the smaller side, maybe up to a foot thick. The old snow surfaces were a mix of sun crusts on aspects facing ESE through WSW and soft old faceted snow and harder wind affected snow on shadier aspects. Wind slabs forming on either one of these surfaces should be touchy, even if they are smaller, the sun crust especially. Watch for stiffer wind deposited snow and shooting cracks. Wind slabs should be easy to identify if we look for them.

Sluffs in the new snow should be easy to trigger on steep slopes with over 4″ of new snow. These could run further than expected if a sun crust is underneath.

If a zone sees snowfall in the 6-10″ range, such as forecast for Portage Valley or Placer, then shallow storm slabs may form in areas out of the winds. This means triggering a slab avalanche composed of the storm snow is possible.

Travel Advice:  Paying attention to new snow amounts and wind loading will be key. Many areas may not see enough snow/wind to even elevate the danger. For example, if only 2-3″ of new snow falls with no wind loading, the danger will remain LOW.

 

Snowfall totals through today. There is high uncertainty, but it looks promising for a little refresh. Graphic courtesy of NWS Anchorage. 03.14.2023

 


Southerly slopes, and a few east and west aspects too, sport a sun crust of varying thicknesses. This will provide a slick surface for the new snow to fall on. 3.14.23.


Example of a low angle northerly facing slope with soft old faceted snow. This was an old wind crust that has been slowly weakening (faceting) with the cold temps over the past week. 3.14.23.


 

 

Additional Concern
  • Persistent Slabs
    Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
More info at Avalanche.org

We are still concerned about a layer of weak facets buried about a foot deep in the southern edge of our forecast area. This layer is most problematic in a small area between Pete’s North and Johnson Pass, The layer was the culprit in a wide propagating skier-triggered avalanche last Monday (3/6). These stubborn persistent weak layers can be difficult to predict and there could still be a chance a person could trigger another slab, as occurred just over a week ago. Extra caution is recommended in this area.

Weather
Wed, March 15th, 2023

Yesterday:  High clouds were over the region with light ridgetop winds from the SE (5-10mph). Temperatures were in the single digits to teens and climbed into the 20’sF at the lower elevations with daytime warming.

Today:  Light snow showers are expected through today with 4-6″ of total accumulation. Ridgetop winds should be easterly in the 15-25mph range with some stronger gusts. Temperatures look to hover in the teens at most locations with lower elevations climbing into the 20’sF this afternoon.

Tomorrow:  A break between storms is expected tomorrow. Partly cloudy skies, moderate east winds (10-15mph), and maybe a lingering flurry or two. Another system pushes in Friday that could bring higher snowfall amounts. Stay tuned.

PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

Temp Avg (F) Snow (in) Water (in) Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′) 14 4 0.2 67
Summit Lake (1400′) 10 0 0 37
Alyeska Mid (1700′) 12 1 0.05 65
Bear Valley – Portage (132′) 10 2 0.15

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

Temp Avg (F) Wind Dir Wind Avg (mph) Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′) 10 NE 10 36
Seattle Ridge (2400′) 10 SE 3 10
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This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area. This advisory does not apply to highways, railroads or operating ski areas.