Northern San Juan
AvalancheAnn Mellick · Nov 27, 2019 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Overcast, cool with light precip and little accumulation through the day (~1"). Strong and gusy southerly winds (25, G/45)
Snowpack
Average snow depth 15"- 18" with the deepest snow up to 28". A variety of weak layers exist: depth hoar, buried surface hoar, crusts and barely-covered, but intact reactive stellars. Northerly slopes near and below treeline proved the weakest with extensive cracking and collapsing noted. Southerly slopes remain thin, with mainly just recent storm snow (some basal crust noted on west slopes below tl). Slab remains soft (4F to F) except in wind affected areas near and above tl. Persistent strong and gusty southerly winds have largely stripped exposed alpine slopes. All the ingredients for a natural avalanche cycle are lining up: snow now covering existing surface roughness in most areas, snowpack with weak snow structure and ~2' snow expected in the next 48 hors.
Avalanche
None