Northern San Juan
AvalancheSusan Hale · Nov 27, 2015 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Strong southerly winds continue to move snow at all elevations. Alpine wx stations still showing SSW/upper 30's G50's. Broken skies alternate with periods of snowfall and gusty conditions with modest accumulations.
Snowpack
Stripped or wind-sculpted slopes seen E-S-W aspects with catchments collecting new wind battered snow. Some protected areas below treeline have 6" to 8" of snow. A few drifts noted over 12" deep but this is highly variable. These winds have dramatically added 15" to the center of Blue Point while the nearby study plot only shows 3". Most of the near-hwy paths remain very thin with rock and grass still visible.
Avalanche
No new avalanches seen. Willow Swamp had a small sluff release from a wind-loaded NE aspect.