Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Mar 15, 2024 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Light to heavy snowfall with limited visibility above treeline. Easterly winds mild temperatures.
Snowpack
New snow totals increased with elevation. Snow totals ranged from 8" in valleys to 20" up high and drifts well over two feet on ridgelines. There was very little slab in the new and it felt to be "right-side-up". Below the new snow, you could not feel the curst as much as in the days prior. The dry snow was not bonding well to the crusts but was only reactive to ski pressure on steep slopes. Easterly wind was lightly drifting snow at ridgelines but by mid day no real Wind Slab formation. The new snow quickly showed signs of warming on sunny and low elevation slopes as was observed on my drive over Red Mountain Pass in the afternoon. No cracking or collapsing. The limited avalanche activity observed was all in the surface snow.
Avalanche
During a short period of visibility I observed a few new snow naturals in the Upper Waterfall Couloir area and on the south slopes above Ophir road.