Valdez
Above 3,000ftModerate
1,500 to 3,000ftModerate
Below 1,500ftModerate
Degrees of Avalanche Danger
Avalanche Problems
Problem 1
Northeast winds on 1/14 reached speeds of 40 mph with gusts to 45. Small pockets of windslab (10-20 feet wide) were observed 1/14, these were found on the lee side of terrain features and were up to 1 foot deep and reactive with shooting cracks present. Larger slabs may be present on the lee side of high elevation ridge lines. As winds continue to decrease windslabs will stiffen and gain strength. Wind direction will switch today to SE and will begin to load different aspects. The hazard for this problem will be lower as you move away from Thompson Pass where winds were light. Avoid lee aspects of high elevation ridge lines region wide and cross loaded gullies near Thompson Pass.
Likelihood:
- Almost Certain
- Very Likely
- Likely
- Possible
- Unlikely
Size:
- Historic
- Very Large
- Large
- Small
Trend
- Increasing
- Steady
- Decreasing
Problem 2
Buried Surface Hoar has been found to be reactive in stability tests north of Thompson Pass between 2000-4000′. Moderate to hard propagation results have been found in snow pits as recently as 1/13. Depth and distribution of this layer varies, but is now 2 feet or deeper in most locations. Spatial distribution is trickier to nail down but you can count on it being present in wind protected areas north of Thompson Pass between 2000-4000′. Human triggered avalanches are possible up to 3 feet deep in specific locations. The hazard for this problem will be increasing with additional stress being applied by new snow and wind. Only time will tell how long it will take for weak layers in our upper snowpack to adjust and bond to new snow that has fallen since 1/3.
Persistent weak layers are hard to assess because they may not be widespread, surface snow will not give an indication of its presence and signs of instability may not exist until its too late. Even very experienced users can be caught off guard with this set up that we have. Use caution, and avoid steep convex terrain and terrain traps/consequential areas north of Thompson Pass between 2000-4000′.
Likelihood:
- Almost Certain
- Very Likely
- Likely
- Possible
- Unlikely
Size:
- Historic
- Very Large
- Large
- Small
Trend
- Increasing
- Steady
- Decreasing
Avalanche Activity
1/9- Natural avalanche observed on an east aspect of North Tiekel. Likely failed during warmup the night of 1/8. Avalanches failed at terrain convexities around 3500′. This area is 4 miles north (beyond) our Continental forecast zone, but is still indicative of that zone.
1/8- 3 separate skier triggered avalanches on Cracked Ice at 2800’/ 40 cms deep (16 inches)/ 100-300′ wide/ ran 600-700 feet and failed on the 1/3 buried surface hoar layer. SS-AR-U-D1.5-2-O
Lower section of far lookers left crown.
12/24- Observers reported remote triggered avalanches up to 100 meters away that were a meter deep. Tsaina trees below 3000′.
12/23- DOT mitigation work on snow slide gulch produced 3 D2.5’s that ran half of their path.
– HS-N-R3-D3-G, NW Crudbusters/ ~5000′
-Multiple D2-D2.5 slides on Oddessey and Little Oddessey. NW-N aspects. Only Little Oddessey crown was clear. ~100 yards wide, ~4′ deep.
-Natural D3 avalanche on Billy Mitchell NW-N aspects, originated ~5000′ stepped down to the ground around 4200′ in rocky terrain. Approximately 200 yards wide.
-Natural D2 avalanche activity was also noted on west aspects of 40.5 mile and Iguana Backs ~3500′. Further observations were prevented due to poor light.
12/20- A powder cloud reached the highway at the mp 42 slide path. “Three Pigs”. No other details available
-Numerous small (3-4″ deep) natural avalanches were observed in the Python and Cracked Ice Buttress area.
12/20- Multiple D1 soft slabs off Mt Cheddar Cheese Wedge (Hippie Ridge) originating from ~6500′
12/3- Numerous natural avalanches were observed north of Thompson Pass with many avalanches failing at the ground. Observations were not made south of Thompson Pass.
Avalanches observed from 46 mile towards Thompson Pass:
Three Pigs: Nearly every path on the SE face ran with debris deposits stopping in the top 1/3 of aprons, thick alders prevented slides from running full path. These were mostly D3 avalanches.
40.5 Mile Peak: Many paths running similar to Three Pigs, with one running full path to the Tsaina river. Mainly W-NW aspects, D3’s
Max High (Peak on the southern extent of Hippie Ridge) had a D3 avalanche with a crown near 5500′,SW aspect.
Upper Catchers Mitt bowl E aspect, slid R4-D3 ,triggering further avalanches lower down.
The main activity noted, was on the buttresses on the east side of the pass, from Cracked Ice through North Odessey Gully. Every buttress had significant avalanche activity originating ~4000-5000′. Many of these failed at the ground, north – northwest aspect. Pictures below.
School Bus and North Odyssey Gully both ran with debris in the runouts.
Many other large to very large natural avalanches occurred.
12/2- DOT reported a natural D2.5-3 avalanche that hit the Lowe river at Snowslide Gulch.
11/30- Natural avalanche observed on 40.5 mile peak just to the South of the Shovel. West aspect, ~4500′, crown ~200′ wide, poor light prevented further observation. SS-N-R1-D2-U.
11/29: Natural avalanche observed on Billy Mitchell Cry babys shoulder, similar elevation as 11/16 slide but originated a couple hundred meters further west. Released from ~4000′ with a crown length of ~ 200 meters, North aspect, ~ 37°, failed at the ground. HS-N-R2-D2.5-G
11/16: Natural avalanche observed on Billy Mitchell “Cry babys shoulder”. Released from~3500′ with a crown length of ~200 meters, North aspect. This slide was triggered by recent NE wind cross loading the slope. SS-N-R2-D2-U
11/15: Natural avalanche observed in Loveland Basin on a South aspect, down the ridge from Tones Temple. This slide was triggered by recent NE wind loading and failed at the ground. SS-N-R1-D2-G
Weather
1/15: A low pressure system south of Prince William Sound will slowly move onshore and weaken. This will cause winds to weaken and switch directions to onshore (SE-S), and may produce 3-6 inches of snow. Another front is on the way and will arrive on Saturday.
The Thompson Pass Mountain Forecast covers the mountains (above
1000 ft) surrounding Keystone Canyon through Thompson Pass to
Worthington Glacier.
This forecast is for use in snow safety activities and emergency
management.
Today Tonight
Temp at 1000` 31 F 28 F
Temp at 3000` 17-31 F 30 F
Chance of precip 90% 90%
Precip amount
(above 1000 FT) 0.38 in 0.13 in
Snow amount
(above 1000 FT) 4-5 in 1-2 in
Snow level 400 ft sea level
Wind 3000` ridges S 15-25 mph S 5-20 mph
Remarks...None.
| Date: 01/15 | 24 hr snow (inches) | HN24W (snow water equivalent inches) | High Temp (F) | Low Temp (F) | Weekly SWE Inches (Monday-Sunday) | January snowfall | Season snowfall | HS (snowpack depth inches) |
| Valdez | 1 | .08 | 36 | 22 | .6 | 31 | 128 | 54 |
| Thompson Pass | N/O | N/O | 25 | 15 | N/O | 56 | 303 | 67 |
| 46 Mile | Trace | ~ | 21 | 10 | 1.2 | 33 | 107 | 47 |
Thompson Pass weather history 20/21. Click on links above the images to see full size view
Additional Information
Our season began with a cold, dry and windy November which promoted faceting in the thin snowpack that existed. Only 28 inches of snow were recorded at Thompson Pass from 11/1 through 11/24.
November 25 began a series of storms that deposited 90” of snow and 11.1” of SWE on Thompson Pass at road level in an 8 day period. At the tail end of these storms the pass received 25” of snow and 3.7” of SWE in 48 hours, along with rising temps that pushed freezing line up to 3000’. This sparked a widespread natural avalanche cycle that failed on faceted snow created in early November. Many of these slides failed at the ground. See avalanche activity section for pictures of the cycle.
December continued with fairly regular snow fall and a couple periods of stable (dry) weather, with snowfall totaling 120 inches on Thompson Pass. Another, smaller natural avalanche cycle occurred on the 12/22 after Thompson Pass received 44 inches of snow with 4” of SWE in a 4 day period. Two full-depth naturals occurred in the Continental region on NW-N aspects between 4500-5000’ on NW Crudbusters and Billy Mitchell. Various other soft slab D2’s occurred in other regions as well. This indicated that depth hoar is still a concern in the Continental region but is becoming less so in our Maritime and Intermountain regions. Incremental snowfall during the second half of December has allowed the snowpack to slowly gain depth and strength.
Cold, stable weather at the end of December created widespread areas of surface hoar up to 1 cm in height, observed on all aspects between 2000-4000’ and up to ridge lines in isolated locations. This layer was more concentrated on the north side of Thompson Pass, promoted by colder temperatures and an ice fog layer that was forming during this time frame. However, this surface hoar has been reported in the Port of Valdez up to brush line.
1-3 feet of snow has since accumulated on top of this weak layer. As snow continues to accumulate through this month it will be important to pay attention to the depth and distribution of the 1/3 Buried Surface Hoar layer.
Snowpack structure generally becomes thinner and weaker as you move North from Thompson Pass
Photos of Surface Hoar taken 1/1 on Crudbusters at 3500′ north aspect.
Announcements
The avalanche hazard is moderate at all elevations. The type of avalanche problem that you may encounter today will depend on where you travel. Areas directly surrounding Thompson Pass (Moonlight-Worthington) will encounter windslabs up to 1 foot deep in specific locations. Use the lee side of small test slopes to determine the depth, sensitivity and distribution of new wind slabs. Human triggered avalanches up to 1 foot deep will be possible. Avoid cross loaded gullies and the lee side of high elevation ridge lines (SE-NW).
It will also be possible to trigger a more dangerous persistent slab avalanche 1-3 feet deep in protected areas north of Thompson Pass between 2-4000′. If you are unsure of how to assess this hazard, avoidance will be the key. Avoid steep/convex terrain in this area, especially deep gullies (terrain traps) that will likely harbor this instability.
For more information click the (+full forecast) button below.
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