Northern San Juan
AvalancheMike Barney · Jan 17, 2021 · Northern San Juan
Weather
11,800' Richmond Basin, light north winds and the temperature was about 28F with scattered clouds at 11:30am. Ridgeline winds were 15 to 25mph causing light to moderate loading on southerly and east aspects for a few hours midday. It was a warm day, the Putney Weather Station (12,300') was 25F at 3pm.
Snowpack
The snowpack is old and tired. It has been beaten by the wind and the sun over the last couple weeks. Alpine northerly-facing slopes have been stripped and all aspects have textured snow that the winds has passed over. Areas a couple hundred feet below ridges on north to east to southeast aspects are smooth and most likely have small wind slabs that fade quickly into soft snow. These areas in the alpine below cliffs and a little more sheltered will be the first to avalanche under a new load.
Avalanche
Small wet loose avalanches and roller balls were observed on near and below treeline southeast to south to west-facing terrain today.