Northern San Juan
AvalancheJeff Davis · Apr 1, 2016 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Clouds quickly moved into the area around 12:00pm. Very light snow shower we observed for a short period of time. Temperatures were cool, but strong solar input was noted when the sun was not covered by clouds. 4" of new snow fell on Red Mountain pass in the past 24 hours.
Snowpack
The new snow continues to show good signs of bonding. Today's solar influence could be felt on east, west, and south slopes. The new snow is becoming a more consolidated surface slab as it settles and we can expect a zipper crust to develop on slopes that got the brunt of the strong solar today. Over the past two weeks the snowpack has once again developed a complex layering system. Though no layers have been reactive there is a Melt-frezze crust that formed between last weeks two storms. This layer continues to get buried deeper and while skinning today was felt collapsing below our feet. Few other signs of instability were observed today, but with the warming trend over the weekend we can expect wet avalanche activity.
Avalanche
Multiple small Storm Slab avalanches were observed on steep slopes lee to S and SW winds.