Valdez

Forecast Expired - 02/21/2020

Above 4,000ftHigh

2,000 to 4,000ftHigh

Below 2,000ftHigh

Degrees of Avalanche Danger

Avalanche Problems

Problem 1

Storm Snow:

Likelihood:

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

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 2

Persistent Slab:

Likelihood:

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

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 3

Deep Slab:

Likelihood:

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

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Avalanche Activity

2/19: A Natural avalanche at 32 mile buried the Richardson higway under 10 feet of snow for ~100′.  This caused the highway to close for the majority of the day.  Details on the slide were limited due to poor visibility on 2/19.

2/14: Dry loose D1-2 natural avalanches were observed running over the wowie zowie ice climb in Mineral creek.

2/13: Natural and human triggered D1 avalanches were observed in keystone canyon.

2/12: A D3 avalanche at mile post 38 hit the Richardson highway and closed the road.  Released on a south aspect in the upper elevation start zones, ~5500′, and stepped down around 4-4500′.  Further DOT mitigation efforts on Three pigs and 40.5 mile produced no results.

2/11: Small avalanche observed on NW aspect of Dimond “promise land”, ~5500′ , R1-D1.5, wind loaded pocket just off ridge line.

-Several avalanches observed on steep benches below 2500′ on S aspect hippie ridge around MP 35.  Only ran height of bench ~100′, but had long connected crowns suggesting these failed on a Persistent weak layer. Crowns ~2′ deep.

2/10: Skies cleared yesterday, from 46 mile to Thompson Pass very few natural avalanches were seen from the 27 inches of snow that fell from 2/8- 2/10. 

2/8: Many full path avalanches were reported running around Valdez glacier lake.

2/6: 2 remote triggered avalanches on RFS at 1800-2000′.

  • SS-ARr-R1-D1-O, N aspect, 60′ wide, 50 cm crown, 1800′, failed on buried near surface facets.
  • SS-ARr-R3-D1.5-O, N aspect, 100′ wide, ~60 cm crown, 2000′, failed on buried near surface facets.

Photo of 1st remote trigger listed

-Natural avalanches observed on south aspect at mile 40, ~1800′, 1-2 feet deep and ~100′ wide. SS-NL-R2-D1.5-O.  These were triggered by small snow sluffs.

2/2: Numerous Small pockets of unsupported terrain released naturally in the tsaina valley below 2000′, 2′ deep.

1/27-1/30: Naturals were observed on RFS, N aspect ~6000′,

Avalanches were also observed on -40.5 mile, ~5000′ ,W aspect, 60 m crown

– 2 paths on Three Pigs, ~5000′, SE aspect, ran into the top 1/3 of aprons.

– 3 slides on Billy Mitchell ranging from 3000′-6000′, NW- N aspect.  The most significant was on the upper bowl of cry babys, ~5000′, ~200 m crown, 1-2 meters deep.  

1/23- Found fresh debris in a gully off point 3848′ behind the airport.  D2, ran ~2000′.

~ 1/10- There have been several natural windslabs that have released in the Thompson Pass region:

-South slope of catchers mitt, near 27 mile icefall,~3500′, ~300m wide ,~3′ deep, ran 500′ HS-N-R3-D2.5.  Photo shows extent of crown, which may have been bigger and is now filled in by wind transported snow.

– Gully Between Little and Big Oddessey, NW, 4000′, ~60 M wide, ~2-4′ crown, ran 1000′

-Averys, ~4000′, SW, ~70 M wide, ran ~1000′

1/11- Two natural wind slab avalanches observed at moonlight basin, 2500′-2800′, S aspect.  

The first was on the small last roll before the road and had debris chunks up to 3′ deep “crown filled in by wind”, 200′ wide.

The second was in a cross loaded gully ~ 300′ above the road, with a crown up to ~10′ deep, ~100′ wide.

 

 

Weather

2/20: Heavy snowfall and moderate to strong south east winds will continue for Thompson Pass.

 
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`      33 F         29 F

Temp at 3000`      28 F         29 F

Chance of precip   100%         100%

Precip amount
(above 1000 FT)    0.60 in      0.21 in

Snow amount
(above 1000 FT)    3-8 in       1-4 in

Snow level         500 ft       600 ft

Wind 3000` ridges  SE 15-25 mph  SE 5-10 mph

Remarks...None.
  24h snowfall (inches) HN24W (inches)* Hi Temp (F) Low Temp (F) February snowfall Season Snowfall Snow height 
Valdez 4 .5 33 29 42 149 55
46 mile 2 23 84 28

Thompson Pass “DOT”

26 21 84 441 100

 HN24W= total water received last 24 hours in inches

Thompson Pass weather history 19/20 season beginning 12/21 through 1/23.  Click on links below to see full size image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TP DEC 19

TP Jan 2020

TP through 2-13

 

Additional Information

Our area has received over 2′ of snow with strong south east winds in the last 48 hours.  More snow is expected on 2/20 which will further stress weak layers in our snowpack.  There has been at least one confirmed natural on 2/19 at 32 mile.  This natural buried the road under 10 feet of snow for ~100 feet.  Details are limited at this time.  Reduced visibility has prevented further avalanche observations.

Significant storms will impact our area this week.  This series of storms will be a real test of the strength of weak layers in our snowpack.  Stay away from avalanche terrain while this test is underway.

 

Forecast Confidence is Moderate.

Resolution is Low 

 

 There have been limited observations from interior locations due to low snow at lower elevations.   Use caution if you travel in these areas.

If you see something in the mountains that could contribute to this forecast, leave a public observation.  The more observations we receive, the better we can tune our forecast. If you would rather not post an observation publicly, feel free to send me an email at [email protected]

Be aware that the elevation bands have changed on our website.  Low is now below 2000′, Mid is 2000-4000′ and high is 4000′ and above. 

Send in your best mountain recreation photos to [email protected] so we can post a photo of the week!

Photo of the Week

Thanks to Spencer Byson for sending in this photo!

Alerts

The avalanche hazard is high at all elevations.  Thompson pass has received significant snowfall in the last 48 hours and more is forecasted for 2/20.  Continued heavy snowfall and moderate to strong south winds will continue to stress the snowpack.  Natural avalanches are likely today.  Avoid travel in and below avalanche terrain.