Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick · Apr 18, 2014 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Mild, though windy with increasing cloud cover through the day. Wind was strong enough to move snow, though there was very little available to move!
Snowpack
Solidly in spring mode. Lower elevations on all aspects and higher terrain on sunny slopes have gone through many melt freeze cycles, and have become more predictable with primarily warmth-induced diurnal instabilities. Northerly terrain had not warmed as much, up to this point. The snowpack remains overall much cooler there. However, warm temps from the past several days and a warm night last night, fueled surface instabilities today on north slopes at all elevations. Dust is becoming more pronounced on sunny slopes below treeline, especially south of RMP (where recent snowfall has been less than north of RMP).
Avalanche
Extensive roller balls and surface sluffing on northerly aspects at all elevations.