Lawinenlagebericht

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist. If you were to trigger an avalanche, it would be an isolated pocket above treeline where there is stiffer, firmer snow that rests on top of weak facets. These avalanches would be small but still have consequences in steep, exposed rocky terrain. Coverage is still thin, and ground hazards are everywhere, making travel or riding difficult. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1

    Although unlikely, above treeline you may find isolated pockets of slab that rests on top of weak faceted snow. These avalanches would be small but could have serious consequences in steep exposed terrain as they may break close to the ground. Obvious signs of instability most likely will not be present, but it's always a good idea to dig a quick pit which is easy right now. If an ECT or PST is part of your repertoire, try doing longer tests 2m+  PSTs and 1.5m+ ECTs. We've had results in your standard lengths, with slab fractures in longer tests. It will be difficult to get wide propagating avalanches, but you could find pockets out there in the more exposed wind effected terrain. 

     

    This is the crown from an avalanche we triggered on 1/9 during the storm. It shows the faceted weak layers that the avalanche failed on beneath the slab. These weak layers will become a concern again when we do get more snow and loading.

    (1/9/2026) Photo: Charlie Harrison

Avalanche Discussion

It certainly doesn't feel like the middle of January with temperatures approaching 40 F at trailheads and the sun already getting higher in the sky. The last storm from January 7-9th brought about 14 inches of snow with  1.15" of snow water equivalent (SWE).  There were several natural avalanches and some human triggered avalanches, with this storm running on facets and depth hoar that developed during the prolonged period of high pressure in December. Instabilities though, quickly diminished as the recent slab from the storm has deteriorated with this past week of high pressure. 

With at least another week of high pressure expect the faceting process to continue in our shallow snowpack.  This widespread weak layer isn't much of a concern right now as we don't have a reactive slab on top. Once we do get more significant snow, this weak snow will become a concern.        (1/15/2026) Photo: Charlie Harrison 

  A stubborn ridge of high pressure is sitting over the West as storms track through the Midwest and east coast and maybe even northern Florida. This blocking ridge at least looks to break down around the 23rd or so with hopefully some moisture moving into our area for the end of the January. In the meantime, it's looking like we'll at least have another week of high pressure.  Conditions are pretty grim out there. Southerly aspects are melting back to bare ground east and west aspects have a crust on the surface in the morning and northerly aspects have mainly become completely cohesionless facets and depth hoar. Last weeks storm is settling quickly as we've already lost 5 inches of snow measured at Poco Gusto weather station. Overall we have 1 to 3 foot snowpack on northerly, east and the typical cross-loaded west facing terrain. It's a weak and shallow snowpack, but we are missing the key ingredient, the slab on most slopes. This widespread weak layer will become a problem once we do see some significant snow. Until then, it's still very much low tide with the biggest hazard being ground hazards. 

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