Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Same basal snowpack, new load. 12" snow/1" h20 fell on a very weak base. Once again, the snowpack in the NSJ was brought to the brink, but the load was not enough to tip the scales into a widespread natural cycle. The snowpack is teetering and waiting for a little nudge (human trigger). A handful of small slabs ran during the storm. Most of these were on north and easterly slopes near and below treeline. Most notable today was the fierce westerly wind. LOTS of blowing snow out there. Windward westerly (some north and south too) ridgelines are stripped. Lots of cross loading of gullies and terrain features. One notable slide ran from the wind loading this AM (see Avalanches).