Southern San Juan

Snowpack

Mark Mueller · Feb 10, 2020 · Southern San Juan

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Weather

Cloudy skies with light snow, temperatures in the 20s at Pass level and moderate SW winds. 4" of new snow with 0.2" of water content measured at the CAIC Snow Study Plot. Light snowfall rates contributed only minimal additional snow by the time we left.

Snowpack

Small, fresh wind slab avalanches were easily triggered in known locations where fresh windloading would be the most significant. Otherwise, no signs of instability. Low density new snow was easily eroded from windward slopes. Modest new snow amounts bonded well to widespread melt-freeze crusts.