Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick · Apr 14, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Mild with sunny skies with increasing clouds through the day. Breezy above treeline.
Snowpack
The snowpack continues to slowly transform, but fickle spring weather is not promoting rapid change. Yesterday's convective storm added up to 4" at our study plot, though this snow quickly melted down or turned gooey today. Storm snow from earlier in the week (a very unevenly distributed 17") has warmed and baked down as well. Wind yesterday stiffened this recent storm snow forming shallow (4"-5"), but non-reactive wind slabs on northerly slopes above treeline. Southerly slopes near and above treeline have "fools corn" (thick melt freeze surface crusts) but continue to hold colder snow below. Large cornices will be an increasing concern with upcoming hot temperatures.
Avalanche
Warming today triggered lots of roller balls and some minor (D1) loose wet slides in the recent snow. Slides "sheeted" off firm dusty surface below.