Northern San Juan

If you find a shallow spot on a slope steeper than around 35 degrees, where a stiff slab sits over a weak layers in the top meter of the snowpack you can trigger an avalanche. Trigger points include shallow buried rocks, convex rollovers, or near cliffs or trees. Avoid traveling where the snow surface looks smooth and pillow-like or where the surface is stiff and hollow sounding. Mild weather over the next few days will make these slabs more stubborn to trigger.

Warm temperatures, light wind, and ample sunshine will warm the snow surface on sunny and low elevations slopes. Avoid traveling on or below steep slopes with rollerballs, pinwheels and wet gloppy snow. The threat of wet avalanches will increase during the day.