Northern San Juan
AvalancheSouthern Mountain Forecasters · Apr 4, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Warm spring day! Clouds built in the afternoon and it was overcast by approximately 5 pm. Temperatures warm and winds calm. Great day to be in the Mountains.
Snowpack
The snowpack continues to melt during this prolonged warm up. Today, high temperatures and periods of ample sunshine warmed the snow surface. The recent storm snow was gloppy and wet even on shady north facing slopes below ~12,000'. The snow did remain dry on north facing slopes in the alpine. The snow surface on sunny slopes was turning to "corn," but don't be fooled, we are not isothermal yet. When you dig down, melt water has only run through the upper snowpack, with varying depth depending on aspect and elevation.
Avalanche
Long running small natural Loose Wet avalanches observed on sunny slopes. A skier in our group triggered an avalanche on a north facing slopes near treeline in the afternoon. The "sluff" gained mass as it traveled down the slopes and ran almost to the valley bottom. This avalanche was small by all accounts, but something to look for if you are traveling in more exposed terrain.