Northern San Juan

Snowpack

Ann Mellick · Feb 13, 2014 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Cold and blustery up high with periods of convective graupel showers. Temps were balmy well below treeline with cloud cover exacerbating warmth/radiation on snowpack.

Snowpack

Stout new slab (~24"+) from last 2 weeks of snowfall, will hold some weight in lower-angled terrain, though will likely be easily triggered on steep slopes. Will likely propagate very efficiently and entrain the whole season's snowpack if triggered. Big warm up is of great concern. We are already seeing lots of direct and indirect evidence of warming-related instabilities, particularly in below treeline areas.