Northern San Juan

Avalanche

Jeff Davis · Feb 24, 2018 · Northern San Juan

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Weather

Nice day. Cold temperatures, moderate SW winds, and mostly sunny skies.

Snowpack

Recent new and wind-drifted snow is overloading buried weak-layers. Large and Very Large natural and explosive triggered avalanches were reported today. Snow safety teams reported long propagation and remote triggers. Most avalanche activity is observed on NW-N-NE-E slopes near and above treeline. Strong southerly winds last week deposited most of the snow mid-slope in the alpine. Steep rock bands, convex terrain, and cross-loaded terrain features are producing the most significant avalanches.

Avalanche

Another natural cycle overnight/this morning with widespread avalanches. NW>N>NE aspects. All of these initiated in steep areas just below cliff bands.