Northern San Juan
AvalancheAmy Pertuz · Mar 24, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
In the morning, light to moderate winds out of the Northwest were moving some snow and obscuring visibility in the alpine. No significant blowing snow near or below treeline. Mild temps with occasional glints of sun.
Snowpack
Storm snow added up to 14", was fairly low density, and largely undisturbed by wind near and below treeline. By mid afternoon, Easterly below treeline slopes had become temperature affected, and snow was still soft and dry, but thickened.
Avalanche
On NE, near treeline slopes, ski cuts easily produced small, soft, size 1 storm slab avalanches on steep, convex rolls. Slabs to 14" were not propagating very far, but were running fast. Otherwise, no signs of instability, cracking, or whumphing on lower angled terrain. New snow likely running on small near surface facets observed on NE slopes before the storm. No other avalanches observed.