Lawinenlagebericht

Turnagain Pass and Girdwood

Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
4 · Gross
Waldgrenze
4 · Gross
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Kernpunkte

There is a HIGH avalanche danger in the Girdwood and Turnagain Pass areas due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Natural avalanches are likely and human triggered avalanches are very likely during and just after the storm. Avalanches could be large enough to send debris into valley bottoms. Travel in avalanche terrain is NOT recommended.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Turnagain Pass due to 12 to 20 inches of snow that could accumulate on the road by later today.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    The storm over the region currently has peaked overnight and brought 10-12" of snow so far to Turnagain Pass and around 6-10" in the mountains around the Girdwood Valley. The rain/snow line has been flucuating around 1,000-1,200'. We are expected another 6 - 10" to fall before sunset. Winds have been strong from the southeast and are peaking this morning with gusts near 100 mph at the Sunburst weather station. It's another storm day!

    For anyone headed out, it's a day to stick to lower angle slopes with nothing steep above you. Natural avalanches are likely occurring and we don't want to accidentally be below a slope where debris can run. If the storm dies down later today, the new snow and windblown snow will be prime for human-triggered avalanches. These could be storm slabs in areas out of the wind or wind slabs on wind loaded slopes. That said, it's best to simply avoid avalanche terrain and let the slopes adjust to yet another load of snow. 

    (1/19/2025)

    Predicted snow totals from 3 a.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday. Graphic courtesy of NWS Anchorage.

    Photo: Wendy Wagner

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2.5–3.5

    Another round of snow and wind is overloading any weak layers that could exist in the snowpack. For the Turnagain Pass area this a layer of faceted snow buried two weeks ago that sits anywhere from 4-7' deep. The layer has not produced an avalanche for over a week that we know of, but we don't want to completely write it off yet. Andrew found it to be reactive in a thin spot near the Seattle Ck headwall on Friday.

    If skies clear tomorrow we hope to get a look around in case we see any really large avalanches. If this layer is still able to cause a deep slab avalanche it will most likely be triggered from a thin spot in the snowpack. This would be areas like rocky outcrops, near scoured ridges or rollovers. This is something to keep in mind for when skies clear and travel is easier between storms.

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