Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Bill Nalli Ann Mellick · Mar 15, 2020 · Northern San Juan

Weather

Intermittent snow showers in between periods of sun. Moderate wind speeds and cooler temperatures helped to limit wet snow avalanche issues.

Snowpack

Storm snow has settled to about six inches and is less sensitive than yesterday. Bond between new/old interface is good. Weak snow exists just below this interface. A new slab is now stressing this layering but in most places is just not enough to prompt new natural avalanches. If this load increases with the coming storms, we may start to see larger avalanches. While cooler temperatures and wind helped to limit wet avalanche activity today, the below treeline snowpack (especially below 11,000 feet) is still wet and has yet to fully re-freeze. The melt-freeze crust near the surface is only semi frozen and larger, wet, faceted-grains exist below. Gouging wet avalanches to the ground may begin to be a threat again with coming warm days.