Wednesday-Saturday 2/22-25

Issued: Wed, Feb 22, 2017 at 8AM

Expires: Sat, Feb 25, 2017

Remember: Low danger does not mean no danger.

As winds have picked up, expect new windslabs drifted onto northerly slopes by southerly onshore winds. These are very easily forming on top of widespread surface hoar and near surface facets from our long clear, cold spell.

ALWAYS use safe travel techniques to your advantage, even when feeling confident about the conditions. Only expose one person at a time to terrain features that could avalanche.

Above 2,500ft Low

1,800 to 2,500ft Low

Below 1,800ft Low

Degrees of Avalanche Danger ?

1. Low

2. Moderate

3. Considerable

4. High

5. Extreme

Avalanche Danger Rose ?

Avalanche Problems ?

Problem Details

WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY & SATURDAY

DANGER SCALE

WIND SLAB:
Elevation: Above 3000″
Aspect: Various aspects due to shifting winds
Terrain: Near ridges, gullies, rollovers
Sensitivity: Responsive
Distribution: Specific
Likelihood (Human Triggered): Possible
Size: Small – Large
Danger Trend: Steady
Forecaster Confidence: Fair

AVALANCHE PROBLEM SCALE DESCRIPTORS:
Sensitivity: Non-reactive, Stubborn, Responsive, Touchy
Distribution: Isolated, Specific, Widespread
Likelihood: Unlikely, Possible, Likely, Nearly Certain
Size: Small, Large, Very Large (size scale <here>)
Danger Trend: Increasing, Steady, Decreasing
Forecaster Confidence: Good, Fair, Poor

AVALANCHE PROBLEM TOOLBOX <here>

SNOWPACK DISCUSSION:

Maritime (Coastal) Specific:

A foot plus of dry snow is resting on mid February’s rain crust which feels much deeper as you elevate yourself above the rain line ~2600′. A recent uptick in winds have started to drift and move the snow around more, especially on higher, exposed ridgelines. A generally stable snowpack could shift as winds form new slabs throughout the zone.

Over the long calm, clear and cold spell, widespread surface hoar and near surface facets formed throughout our region. As new snow falls and winds pick up, investigate how these weak crystals are reacting once they get buried. Evaluate and test readily, for these crystals can persist and lead to problems for extended periods of time….leading to unpredictable and large avalanches.

As the sun rises ever higher above the horizon and hits previously shadowed terrain, consider the effects of solar radiation on southerly slopes. A slight change in slope angle in relation to the sun can impact the snowpack’s response dramatically. One can witness that the lower elevation steep southerlies above town and the airport are warming and shedding due to the burning orb’s influence.

Find more photos and observations at the bottom of the page. Sharing your observations creates an informed community that everyone benefits from at some point.

Recent Avalanche Activity

Maritime (Coastal) Specific:

2/13-14: Numerous wet avalanches below the rain line (+-3000′) around the Port.
2/18: Natural sluff avalanches (loose snow) observed on sunny south facing aspects from solar radiation.

Recent Weather

WEATHER FORECAST for NEXT 24 HRS at 3,000 ft:
Temperature Forecast (Min/Max *F):			10 / 22
Ridgetop Wind Forecast (direction/mph):			Var / 5-20
Snowfall (in/water equivalent):			1-3″ / 0.14″

WIND & TEMPERATURE PAST 24 hours	Ferry Terminal	Thompson Pass
Average Wind Speed (mph) / Direction	6 / NE	32? / NE
Max Wind Gust (mph) / Direction	15 / ENE	38? / NE
Temperature Min / Max (*F)	16 / 24	0? / 2?

Weather Forecast: As a low moves across the gulf west to east, expect at most a handful of inches of snow into the early afternoon. The slightly warmer temperatures and southerly gusts will back down as the skies clear and winds return from the north. Expect mostly clear skies Thursday and building clouds Friday prior to some light precipitation Friday afternoon/evening.

Additional Info & Media

SNOW HISTORY:	Valdez 2/22 AM	Thompson Pass 2/22 AM
24 Hour Snow / Water Equiv.	Trace/0.01″	Trace /0.01″
Storm Snow /Water Equiv. (2/17-2/18)	3.1” /0.2″	3″ /0.3″
Current Snow Depth	51″	48″
February Snow / Water Equiv.	44.2″ /4.5″	42″ / 5.0″
Total Winter Snowfall / Water Equiv.	222.2″ /20.4”	281″ / 27.6″
Snowload in Valdez	78 lbs/sq. ft.

SNOWFALL at OTHER STATIONS: LAST 24 HRS (2/22 AM)/STORM TOTAL (2/22)/STORM WATER EQUIV.:
Nicks Valley at 4200 ft (in):			0″ / 0″ / 0″
Upper Tsaina at 1750 ft (in):			0″ / 0″ / 0″
Sugarloaf at 550 ft (in):			Trace/ 0″ / 0″

SNOW DEPTH & WATER SURVEY (2/1/2017)	Depth	Snow Water Equivalent
Milepost 2.5 Valdez	41.5″	9.8″
Milepost 18	43.9″	9.5″
Milepost 29 Worthington Flats	61.5″	16″
Milepost 37 Tsaina River bridge	42.1″	9.3″
This survey is done the first week of each month.

Weather Quicklinks:

NWS forecast for Northeast Prince William Sound <here>
NOAA NWS spot forecast for Thompson Pass <here>
Thompson Pass RWIS weather station <here>
MP 30 Nicks (Happy) Valley weather station at 4200 feet <here> (scroll to Nicks Valley)
Valdez Glacier UAF weather station at 6600 feet <data here> <map here>
Further weather resources <here>

SNOW CLIMATE ZONES:

Maritime (Coastal) – from the Port of Valdez to Thompson Pass, all waters flowing into Valdez Arm and everything south of Marshall Pass.
Inter-mountain (Transitional) – between Thompson Pass and Rendezvous Lodge.
Continental (Interior) – the dry north side of the Chugach (north of 46 Mile, including the Tonsina River).