Northern San Juan
SnowpackKrista Beyer · Mar 4, 2025 · Northern San Juan
Weather
North and northwest winds matched the WRF 2k forecast with an average speed of around 20 mph and a peak gust at 52 mph. Temperatures at 11,200 ft maxed out at 21 degrees with a minimum temperature of 12 degrees. This is a welcome and abrupt change from a high of 49 degrees recorded at the same elevation on March 1st.
Snowpack
A nearby SNOTEL site at Red Mountain Pass measured 10 inches at .8 SWE in the past 24 hours. Observed snow in Cement Creek ran similar numbers with a gradient related to elevation. We found 6 to 8 inches by 3pm in the parking lot and 10-11 inches at 11,500ft. This new snow is drifting at upper elevations due to strong north winds. New snow was light and unconsolidated and did not exhibit slab characteristics: nothing but Loose Dry activity on steep sheltered slopes. We saw minor cracking isolated to ski pressure near treeline. Wind-drifting near treeline also failed to develop a slab, even on lee southeast slopes. Southeast slopes host a stout impenetrable melt-freeze crust beneath the new snow at 11,500ft. We dug on a northeast slope near treeline in a previously drifted area. We received no test results. Structurally, new precipitation particles and wind-packed grains sit above facets.