Northern San Juan

New snow and very strong southwesterly winds on Tuesday will form fresh wind slabs at upper elevations. The most dangerous slopes face northwest through north to east, where wind loads new snow onto leeward slopes above treeline, but you could also find wind-stiffened snow lower in the terrain. You could trigger avalanches in pockets of wind-drifted snow below ridgelines, in cross-loaded gullies, and on convex rolls. Look for cracking in the snow surface as a sign that the snow is stiff enough to avalanche. For safer travel, seek out wind-sheltered terrain at lower elevations.

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