Northern San Juan

An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the northwestern San Juan mountains. Heavy snow and strong winds will create very dangerous avalanche conditions through Saturday. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during this time. 

You can easily trigger an avalanche if you find new snow forming a cohesive slab on steep slopes at all elevations. Avalanche danger remains elevated as new snow accumulates and strong winds persist into Saturday. You're most likely to trigger an avalanche in the new snow where you find 10 inches or more that's settled or been drifted by the wind into a slab.

Look for signs of storm snow instabilities, such as small natural avalanches on steep roadbanks or cracking in the new snow. As the new snow load increases, so do your chances of triggering a larger and more dangerous avalanche that breaks deeper in the snowpack on old buried weak layers. Anticipate dangerous and dynamic conditions and avoid avalanche terrain.