Northern San Juan
SnowpackSusan Hale · Apr 29, 2013 · Northern San Juan
Weather
Very warm and windy today. But not much snow moving around. These past 2 days are the most sustained warm-up we've seen above treeline this season. Temps dropped to 30 & 31 for a few hours on the morning of 28th. Currently 40+F at our upper sites. Winds gusting in the the 30's.
Snowpack
In just one day, since Ann's observations, our RMP stake has dropped 6 inches. Dust is now generally apparent on all slopes except on some high northerlies (however the dust is beginning to appear on some of those higher north aspects. Sluffs apparent on all aspects, even north, but no slab avalanche activity observed -- However, this sort of warm-up - with copious amounts of water running - has the potential to awaken any old instabilities that may still be lurking on those higher north aspects. Highway affects - Trending to NONE: > Mother Cline is almost completely melted out with only isolated patches of thin insignificant snow. Small bits of ice and rockfall are affecting the highway > E. Riverside North is nearly dry. > Blue Point has very little snow left and is no longer a threat to the highway. > The Ledges/Silver Ledge Mine and Brooklyns have patchy snow and are no longer a threat to the highway.