Valdez

Forecast Expired - 12/02/2022

Above 4,000ftModerate

2,000 to 4,000ftModerate

Below 2,000ftModerate

Degrees of Avalanche Danger

Avalanche Problems

Problem 1

Wind Slab:

 Strong north winds have been occurring since 11/26.  A trace of new snow fell overnight that will quickly be redistributed by strong north winds that are forecasted 12/1.  Prior to the wind, around a foot of soft snow existed above the 11/13 rain crust.  The strength of the latest wind event has stripped this soft snow away in most areas.  A significant amount sublimation has occurred (the process of snow going from a solid directly to a gas state). In plain term, the snow blew away into space and deposition was limited.

Wind slabs have since gained a lot of strength.  on 11/30 wind slabs were found to be very hard (1 finger-pencil) and stubborn to unreactive up to 5000 feet.  We can not yet rule out the possibility of a person or machine triggering a wind slab avalanche in a cross loaded gully, or the lee side of a high elevation ridge line (SE-NW).  If a wind slab avalanche were to be triggered, it would be a hard slab that could be consequential.  Shooting cracks or collapsing are a sign that windslabs remain reactive.  Further wind slab development should be limited as snow available for transport will be limited to the trace that fell the night of 11/30.

Likelihood:

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

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Problem 2

Persistent Slab:

There are multiple rain crusts from October that are faceting in the mid and lower snowpack.  Recent winds have created very strong snow at the surface making it difficult for a person or machine to affect these deeper layers.  

At the present time this layer does not appear active, but if the weather remains cold and dry, these old rain crusts (bottom of the snowpack) will continue to weaken and could cause problems within our snowpack in the future.

There is a higher possibility of affecting these layers in the continental zone where a more faceted snowpack exists.

Likelihood:

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

Size:

  • Historic
  • Very Large
  • Large
  • Small

Trend

  • Increasing
  • Steady
  • Decreasing

Avalanche Activity

11/14-  Debris from a D3 natural avalanche at snow slide gulch ended 100 vertical feet above the Lowe river.  

Large avalanches (D2-2.5)also occurred in multiple other locations including Berlin Wall, Catchers Mitt, South Three Pigs and Billy Mitchell.  The activity extends beyond this list, and mostly occurred during the peak of warming and precipitation on 11/13.

Multiple natural D1-1.5 avalanches were observed on multiple aspects at low elevation.  No step downs noted.

 

Weather

Check out our updated weather tab!  A collection of local weather stations are available for viewing with graphs and tabular data included.

NWS Watches and warnings

Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
259 AM AKST Thu Dec 1 2022

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
9 PM AKST THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 35 to 55 mph with gusts up to 75 mph
  expected.

* WHERE...Valdez and Thompson Pass.

* WHEN...From 9 AM to 9 PM AKST Thursday.

NWS Point forecast for Thompson Pass

Today
Areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 11. North wind 45 to 50 mph increasing to 50 to 55 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 75 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 6. North wind 45 to 50 mph decreasing to 35 to 40 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 70 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. North wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. North wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Detailed forecast for Thompson Pass Mid elevation (2000-4000 Feet)
Date               Thursday 12/01/22       Friday 12/02/22         
Time (LT)          06    12    18    00    06    12    18    00    06
Cloud Cover        OV    CL    CL    CL    FW    SC    SC    FW    SC
Cloud Cover (%)    75     5     0     5    25    35    35    20    45
Temperature        10     9    10     6     5    14    21    18    18
Max/Min Temp                   11           2          21          17
Wind Dir           NE    NE    NE    NE    NE    NE    NE     N     N
Wind (mph)         33    35    37    29    20    12     8     4     4
Wind Gust (mph)    63    74    71    55    40    29    23    17      
Precip Prob (%)    10     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     5
Precip Type                                                          
12 Hour QPF                  0.00        0.00        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   0.4   0.5   0.7

 

Click on link below for Thompson Pass weather history graph:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR_Fl5087NrNCo2BtsSaum-gxrx1QioHSO4YqEmjW76LhuDu9ZsSxbBCTl6zkYIFarys-5eM_7P5GpV/pubhtml

 

 

 

Date:

12/1

24 hr snow HN24W* High temp Low temp 72 hour SWE* December snowfall Seasonal snowfall Snowpack Depth
Valdez N/O N/O 29 14 N/O N/O 34 11
Thonpson pass  1 .04 14 -7 .04 1 98 N/O
46 mile Trace Trace 10 -12 Trace 0 0* 16

 

 

HN24W- 24 hour Snow water equivalent in inches

SWESnow water equivalent

46 mile seasonal snowfall total begins December 1st.

Additional Information

 

Our snow season began with above average precipitation and temperatures.  Beginning in September, snow lines generally hung around 4500′ until 10/12.  At that point our area received the first snow down to sea level with 12-16 inches on the north side of Thompson Pass.  

On 10/15 wet conditions continued with the freezing line rising to 5000′ or higher. As skies finally cleared on 10/22 we were left with a thin rain saturated snowpack capped by a stout rain crust up to 4500′.  Above 4500′ much deeper snowpacks existed due to significant early season snowfall at upper elevations.

Dry and cold conditions along with moderate outflow winds finished out the month of October.

On 11/1 precipitation returned with 18 inches of snow and ~1″ of SWE on Thompson Pass.  This new snow was initially reactive with several natural D2 avalanches reported on Thompson Pass.  These slides were running on a firm bed surface consisting of old rain crusts and old wind slabs from October.

On 11/4 a strong north wind event kicked up with 65 mph+ winds on Thompson Pass.  Our snowpack received significant damage as already thin snow below 4500′ was stripped down to old wind slabs, rain crusts and the ground.  

Precipitation returned on 11/8 and became heavy on 11/11.  Storm totals of around 50 inches were recorded at Thompson Pass DOT between 11/8-11/13.  Snow lines rose to ~3000′ near the tail end of the storm with heavy rain occurring in low lying areas.

Skies cleared on 11/14 through 11/18 with a strong temperature inversion setting up.  Valley temperatures north of Thompson Pass fell to 0° F with above freezing temperatures existing above 4000 feet.  Valdez temps remained mild.  This weather allowed for widespread surface hoar up to 1 cm to develop in low lying areas.  

Precipitation returned on 11/19, with incremental snowfall on Thompson Pass and areas north.  The Valdez area received rain during this period.  12 inches have been recorded at TP DOT between 11/9-11/23.

11/26-11/29- Strong outflow (N) wind event.  Many areas below 3000′ were stripped to the 11/13 rain crust, destroying the 11/19 BSH layer.

 

Announcements

The avalanche hazard is Moderate at all elevations for the intermountain and continental zones. Human triggered wind slab avalanches 1-2 feet deep remain a possibility in cross loaded gullies, as well as the lee side of terrain features and high elevation ridge lines. This avalanche problem is becoming less likely moving forward as wind slabs gain strength.  

Posted by Gareth Brown 12/1  7:30am.

 

For a description of avalanche problems, weather information, season history and more click the (+ full forecast) button.  Avalanche forecasts will be issued Wednesday-Sunday.