Blizzard and avalanche warnings remain through TuesdayPublished on March 8th, 2010 By SEWARD PHOENIX LOG STAFF
An avalanche hit the Grandview area Feb. 13, taking the lives of Anchorage snowmachiners Jim Bowles, 57, and Alan Gage, 40. According to Alaska State Troopers, avalanche dangers remain high around the Kenai Peninsula. (Courtesy Photo, ALASKA STATE TROOPERS) Blizzard warnings remain in effect through western Kenai Peninsula and western Prince William Sound until 6 a.m. Tuesday, including Seward, Girdwood, Whittier, Kenai, Soldotna, Moose Pass and Homer. According to the National Weather Service, a powerful storm tracking across the western gulf coast today is predicted to move inland over the eastern Kenai Peninsula tonight. Winds are expected from 20-35 miles per hour, with 50 miles per hour gusts producing visibility of less than a quarter mile. Blizzard conditions are expected to continue until the snow tapers off early Tuesday morning. All travel and outdoor activity is strongly discouraged. Avalanche danger in the Turnagain Arm area including Turnagain Pass remains high, according to the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, with human-triggered avalanches likely on steep windloaded slopes and natural avalanches likely on slopes greater than 35 degrees. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. According to Lisa Portune's March 8 avalanche report, warm temperatures combined with fresh windslabs will likely lead to top-heavy slab formations on top of the already lighter density, creating unstable conditions. Portune also reported of a glide crack in the upper Girdwood Valley around 2300 feet Sunday morning and loose snow snuffs triggered by skiers on the Goat Mountain southernly slopes. "Despite the single digit temperatures, the March sun was strong enough to melt the snow surface," she said. Seward Phoenix Log Staff can be reached at editor@alaskanewspapers.com |
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The Seward Phoenix LOG is a publication of Alaska Newspapers, Inc. This article is © 2010 and limited reproduction rights for personal use are granted for this printing only. This article, in any form, may not be further reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication for not-for-profit purposes. Portions of this article may belong to other agencies; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Newspapers, Inc. makes no provisions for further distribution.