Valdez

Forecast Expired - 01/02/2022

Above 3,000ftConsiderable

1,500 to 3,000ftConsiderable

Below 1,500ftModerate

Degrees of Avalanche Danger

Avalanche Problems

Problem 1

Wind Slab:

New snow combined with very strong wind will be stressing a weak snowpack on lee aspects.  This will quickly elevate the avalanche hazard in these areas.  Wind speeds are forecasted to reach 80 mph in wind channeled terrain, which will strip new snow from most areas and create dense wind slabs on the lee side of terrain features such as cross loaded gullies and top loaded slopes.   It is possible that strong winds may be able to gouge deeper into the snowpack creating deeper slabs in specific locations.  Although, rain crusts on knife hard wind slabs that are already in place may limit the amount of damage.  

It is recommended to avoid recent and actively wind loaded slopes.  Shallow wind slabs may be able to break into deeper layers in the snowpack creating dangerous hard slab avalanches.     

Our snowpack has repeatedly become reactive with minor changes in weather.  It is very possible that today will be no different.

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 2

Persistent Slab:

The majority of our avalanche concerns revolve around weak faceted snow created in November.  In many places these facets have been capped by varying depths of hard wind slabs.  This layering has made these facets more difficult to affect due to bridging, and signs of instability have decreased as well.  Even though persistent slabs have become more stubborn to triggers a weak snowpack is still in place.  Dangerous human triggered hard slab avalanches 1-3+ feet deep remain possible.

 

 

Persistent slab avalanches are difficult to predict and are notorious for catching even very experienced users off guard.  Signs of instability will likely no longer exist and snowpits may give misleading results.  For example, a person may dig a pit that shows poor structure, yet they receive no results, ECTX.  This person assumes the slope is safe.  The reality may be that in close proximity, there could be areas near rocks (thin areas) or near the edge of a slab where trigger points exist that could release the entire slope if affected.  The only effective practices for mitigating a persistent slab avalanche problem is conservative terrain choices and the use of safe protocols.  Safe protocols include only exposing one person to an avalanche prone slope on the way up or down,  having an escape route should a slope fail and maintaining good communication within your group.  

 

The most likely places to trigger a persistent slab avalanche will be in thin rocky areas or anywhere the snowpack is thinner and the weak layer is closer to the surface.  Other areas include places that have not been affected by recent wind events, and locations north of Thompson pass where colder temperatures has created an even weaker snowpack.  

 

 

Photo of developed facets found on Girls Mtn at 3000′ SE aspect (2mm grid).   These were found 1 foot beneath the surface.  This layer of facets has been found at varying depths ranging from at the surface to 3+ feet deep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Likelihood:

  • Almost Certain
  • Very Likely
  • Likely
  • Possible
  • Unlikely

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Avalanche Activity

12/29-  Multiple natural wet loose D1-D2’s were observed in the Port of Valdez with no step downs noted.

12/23- Berlin Wall north face ~5000′ HS-N-R3-D2-O.  It is possible this occurred on 12/21, although it was not observed until 12/24.

12/21- Numerous natural avalanches observed all along the north side of Thompson Pass, as a result of strong NE wind event along with a couple inches of new snow and rising temperatures.  Observed naturals on all aspects except windward slopes with crowns originating from 1000 feet to 5500 feet in elevation.  Most of these were hard slab avalanches.  Crown depths were difficult to discern due to reloading, although some crowns looked to be up to 2 meters in depth.

12/19- D 2.5 natural avalanches were observed on the north facing buttress west of Gully 1 and Schoolbus.  

12/14-  Several natural avalanches were observed although poor visibility prevented a full view of the action.  The most notable natural was observed in Nicks Happy Valley on a NW aspect ~4000′.  Crown depth was not visible.  Debris ran down the valley and piled up at the typical snowmachine pickup.

12/8- Large remote trigger/ sympathetic avalanche event occurred 12/8 with avalanches extending from Gully 1 to Nicks.  Avalanches were soft slabs that ranged in size from D1-D3.  Over 10 separate avalanches were counted with crown depths averaging 2-3′.  One avalanche had a crown length of half a mile while another was triggered over a mile away from the point of collapse.  See observation section for full report and more photos.

12/7- Only a few natural avalanches were noted during the last storm.  It is likely there were more during the storm, but crowns may have been filled in by subsequent wind and snow.

D2’s on Town mountain was observed ~3000′

A couple of D2’s were noted in N. Oddessey gully and Big Oddessey.

D2 on 40.5 mile peak ~5500′.

12/2-12/3- Several natural D2 avalanches were noted on south aspects of Three pigs, Hippie Ridge and Averys.  These windslab avalanches originated between 4000-5500 feet elevation.

Weather

NWS Watches and Warnings

 Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
740 AM AKST Fri Dec 31 2021

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING...

* WHAT...North winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts up to 80 mph
  possible.

* WHERE...Valdez and Thompson Pass.

* WHEN...From Saturday evening through Sunday evening.

 

Point forecast for Thompson Pass

New Year’s Day
A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after 3pm. Areas of blowing snow. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around -6 by 4pm. Wind chill values as low as -40. North wind 50 to 55 mph, with gusts as high as 70 mph.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of snow before 9pm. Areas of blowing snow after 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around -18. Wind chill values as low as -55. North wind around 55 mph, with gusts as high as 70 mph.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around -22 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -65. North wind 50 to 55 mph, with gusts as high as 70 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around -25. Wind chill values as low as -65. North wind 45 to 50 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near -15. North wind 40 to 45 mph decreasing to 30 to 35 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -20. Northeast wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near -11.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around -16.

 

 Detailed forecast for Thompson Pass (mid elevation 2000-4000′)

 
DATE             SATURDAY 01/01          SUNDAY 01/02            
TIME (LT)        06    12    18    00    06    12    18    00    06
CLOUD COVER      OV    OV    OV    OV    OV    BK    OV    OV    BK
CLOUD COVER (%)  95    95    90    85    70    70    75    70    55
TEMPERATURE       5    -1    -6    -8   -10   -16   -21   -20   -21
MAX/MIN TEMP                  9         -12          -6         -24
WIND DIR          N     N     N     N     N     N     N     N     N
WIND (MPH)       40    44    46    43    43    40    34    33    28
WIND GUST (MPH)  69    69    69    69    69    66    57    54    51
PRECIP PROB (%)  30    30    20     5     0     0     0     0     0
PRECIP TYPE       S     S     S                                    
12 HOUR QPF                0.04        0.01        0.00        0.00
12 HOUR SNOW                0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0
SNOW LEVEL (KFT)0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0
 

Snow and Temperature Measurements

 

Date: 01/01 24 hr snow  HN24W* High Temp Low Temp Weekly SWE (Monday- Sunday) January Snowfall Season Snowfall HS (Snowpack depth)
Valdez 0 0 33 14 .26 0 82 21
Thompson Pass 0 0 20 6 .1 0 160 24
46 Mile 0 0 .1 0 31**  18

 

All snowfall measurements are expressed in inches and temperature in Fahrenheit. 24 hour sample period is from 6am-6am. 

* 24 hour snow water equivalent/ SWE.

** Season total snowfall measurements for 46 mile began December 1st.

 

Season history graphs for Thompson Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on links below to see a clear and expanded view of above Season history graphs

 

TP WX Nov 21

 

TP WX as of 12/20

Additional Information

Winter weather began early this season, with valley locations receiving their first snowfall on the last day of Summer (September 21st).  Following this storm, above average temperatures and wet weather occurred from late September through early November.  During this time period Thompson Pass received 96 inches of  snowfall by November 7th and Valdez recorded 7.73″ of rain.  

After the 7th of November our region experienced a sharp weather pattern change.  Temperatures dropped below seasonal norms and snowfall became infrequent.  Between the time frame of November 7th- November 28th Thompson Pass only reported 19″ of snow with 1.1″ of Snow water equivalent (SWE).  Temperatures remained below 0° F for most of the period.   This cold/dry weather caused significant faceting of the snowpack, with poor structure the result.

Moderate snowfall returned to our area the last day of November and deposited 6-12 inches of new snow.  The amount varied depending upon the locations’ proximity to the coast.  As the storm exited on the 2nd of December it was quickly replaced by moderate to strong northeast winds.  

On 12/5-12/6 Valdez received 2 feet of new snow with Thompson Pass reporting 16″.  Blaring red flags like collapsing, shooting cracks and propagation in stability tests were immediately present.  On 12/8 a significant remote/ sympathetic avalanche event occurred from Gully 1 through Nick’s Happy Valley. 

Strong outflow winds began on 12/11 with periods of light snowfall.  This has caused slab thicknesses to become variable in areas exposed to NE winds.

A fair amount of natural avalanche activity occurred during the 12/11 wind event mostly on southerly aspects.  The week following this wind event fairly benign weather occurred which allowed the snowpack to adjust and for stability to improve although snowpack structure has remained poor.  

On 12/21 our area received a couple inches of snow along with temperatures rising and strong outflow winds.  This combination of weather kicked off a fairly significant natural avalanche cycle.  Many of the slabs appeared to be deeper wind slabs that were created from the 12/11 wind event.  These failed on faceted snow created in November.  The event is yet another indicator of our poor snowpack structure and its inability to receive any major change in weather without the avalanche hazard rising in conjunction.

 

On 12/26-28 warm air moved in at elevation and caused rain to fall in certain locations.  The distribution of this rain on snow event is unclear at present but was observed on 12/27 to have formed a thin crust up to 3700′ on Thompson Pass proper.

 

 

Announcements

The avalanche hazard is Considerable above 1500 feet. Human triggered wind slab avalanches will be likely up to 1 foot deep and natural avalanches are possible.  It is also possible that shallow wind slabs could step down to deeper layers in the snowpack and create large hard slab avalanches 1-3+ feet in depth.

 

Click the + Full Forecast button below for a list of current avalanche problems, travel advice, weather resources and more.

 

Help to improve your local avalanche center and contribute an observation to the website.  You can also contact me directly at [email protected] (907)255-7690.