Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Jeff Davis · Mar 5, 2017 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Ferocious SW winds. Sky was obscured, as snowfall started around 2pm. On a tr" of snow has accumulated.

Snowpack

Strong southwest winds are eroding previously developed hard slabs on windward slopes. Shallow Wind slabs were developing on Leeward slopes, but only up to 10cm slabs were observed. Winds were strong above 12,000 ft. With the pole test, I could find the same weak-structure that I have been finding in other parts of the zone with buried crust/facet layers on SE-E-NE facing slopes. The snow surface on W-S-E slopes BTL had a firm crust on the surface created by recent warming and produced less than ideal skiing conditions. Dry snow persist on shady below-treeline northerly slopes.