Thu, March 08, 2018 Turnagain Pass Avalanche Forecast

Thu, March 8th, 2018

Alpine

Above 2,500'

4 - High

Treeline

1,000'-2,500'

4 - High

Below Treeline

Below 1,000'

3 - Considerable

0 - No Rating

1 - Low

2 - Moderate

3 - Considerable

4 - High

5 - Extreme


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

Storm Slabs
Certain

Very Likely

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Likelihood
Historic (D4-5)

Very Large (D3)

Large (D2)

Small (D1)

Size

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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

A strong storm beginning this morning will bring up to a foot of new snow today and an additional 1-2 feet tonight. This will rapidly load slopes and if the storm verifies, large natural avalanches will be likely along with likely human triggered slides. These avalanches will be large and could run far into runout zones. Areas closer to the coast, such as Portage and Placer valleys will see the majority of the snow, but heavy snow is also expected in Girdwood Valley, Turnagain Pass, Moose Pass and Seward. The Summit Lake area is likely to see lesser amounts (16-20″ storm total compared to 3+’ of storm total for the other zones).

Storm snow avalanches will be the primary concern as the day progresses. Avalanche danger is directly related to how much new snow has fallen combined with increasing winds loading slopes. The new snow will fall on a few inches of light powder that sits over hard wind affected surfaces. This set-up creates a slick surface for the new snow and bonding is expected to be poor. It is a day to be mindful of changing conditions and leaving the mountains before sun down.

Types of storm snow avalanches that are expected to be occurring naturally tonight:

– Wind slabs: 1-3 feet of new snow combined with strong Easterly winds = wind slabs up to 4-6′ thick
– Storm slabs: Soft slabs are expected in areas out of the wind due to rapid loading and poor bonding with the old surface
– Loose snow sluffs: Sluffing in the new snow on steep slopes is expected
– Cornice falls: Fresh cornices are expected to build and break off during the storm, often this will trigger a wind slab or storm slab below

Forecaster excercise: Imagine 2-3+ feet of new snow by tomorrow morning, with wind, falling on the slopes pictured below. We are powder starved and in need of snow, but sticking well out of avalanche terrain (including runout areas) as the storm sets in will be key.

Seattle Ridge, with the up-track on right of photo

Southwest face of Sunburst

Magnum Ridge

–

Avalanche Problem 2

Persistent Slabs
Certain

Very Likely

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Likelihood
Historic (D4-5)

Very Large (D3)

Large (D2)

Small (D1)

Size

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.

Likelihood of Avalanches

Size of Avalanches

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

New snow and wind loading could overload old weak layers buried in the existing snowpack. In the case this occurs, or a storm related avalanche ‘steps down’ into a deeper weak layer, avalanches could be very large and send debris well into valley bottoms. Another reason to let the mountains sit during the storm. Areas on the South end of the Pass and the Summit Lake area are most suspect for having deeper weak layers release.

Weak faceted snow on a crust sits about a foot below the surface in the mid-elevations in the Summit Lake region. An example of weak layers in the pack that could become overloaded and release during the storm

–

Weather

Thu, March 8th, 2018

Partly sunny skies with valley fog was over the region yesterday. Ridgetop winds were light from the North and temperatures were in the teens along ridgelines and in the mid 20’sF at 1,000′. Overnight, winds shifted to the East and are increasing along with temperatures as a small, but strong, low pressure develops South of Seward.

Today, Thursday, a quick and potent storm will move in with heavy snowfall and strong wind. Snow has just begun this morning and by 6pm this evening should bring 8-14″ (.5-.7″ water). From 6pm to 6am tomorrow, another 12-24″ (1-1.5″ water) is expected. Favored areas will be Placer and Portage Valleys with Summit Lake likely seeing the least in these ranges. Ridgetop winds will be Easterly in the 30-50mph with stronger gusts. Temperatures should remain close to 30F at sea level (#snowtosealevel) and in the low 20’sF along ridgetops.

Quote from the NWS’s Special Weather Statement:

Depending on the track the low center takes, the road system from
Seward to Portage could see snow accumulations anywhere from one
to three feet through Friday evening. Heaviest snowfall is
expected to be from Moose Pass southward.

Friday, this system will slowly exit and light snow showers are expected. Ridgetop winds are forecast to remain strong from the East and South however. Periods of light snowfall should continue through the weekend as a Southerly flow keeps pumping moisture into our area.

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

	Temp Avg (F)	Snow (in)	Water (in)	Snow Depth (in)
Center Ridge (1880′)	22	trace	0.05	67
Summit Lake (1400′)	20	0	0	29
Alyeska Mid (1700′)	23	trace	0.05	59

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am – 6am)

	Temp Avg (F)	Wind Dir	Wind Avg (mph)	Wind Gust (mph)
Sunburst (3812′)	15	NE	5	25
Seattle Ridge (2400′)	20	SE	5	21

Observations

Recent Observations for Turnagain Pass

Date	Region	Location	Observer
05/13/24	Turnagain	Observation: Eddie’s, Sunburst, Seattle, Cornbiscuit, Pete’s South	H Thamm
05/13/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Pass non-motorized side	Amy Holman
05/12/24	Turnagain	Observation: Warm up Bowl	Tony Naciuk
05/07/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Pass Wet Slabs	A S
04/29/24	Turnagain	Avalanche: Turnagain aerial obs	Tully Hamer
04/27/24	Turnagain	Observation: Johnson Pass	Noah Mery
04/23/24	Turnagain	Observation: Turnagain Sunny Side	Travis SMITH
04/21/24	Turnagain	Observation: Bertha Creek	Anonymous
04/20/24	Turnagain	Avalanche: Spokane Creek	Schauer/ Mailly Forecaster
04/16/24	Turnagain	Observation: Cornbiscuit	Krueger / Matthys Forecaster

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