Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Ann Mellick · Dec 17, 2012 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Chilly with a stiff wind near and above treeline. Heavy snowfall in the morning diminished by noon. Clearing to mostly sunny by afternoon.

Snowpack

Below tl west, north, east: generally consists of recent storm snow resting on early season facets. Very weak. Northerly aspects are deepest (~1 meter) and most tender. Slopes that catch more sun are barely covered and have a thinner or non-existent basal weak layer. Observed slides all ran at new snow/facet interface. Lots of new snow available for transport. The weekend snow was slow-loading and came with very little wind. Increasing winds today are redistributing new snow, forming fresh tender windslabs near and above treeline. Expecting to see some fresh wind-triggered slides from this wind event.