Northern San Juan

An Avalanche Watch is in effect for most mountain ranges in Colorado. Very dangerous avalanche conditions will develop overnight Saturday and last through Monday. Avalanches will grow larger and run farther than they have all season. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Sunday or Monday.

Strong westerly winds easily drift snow into thicker slabs on leeward slopes. Some steeper slopes may fail naturally with continued loading. You can triggered avalanches on slopes were cohesive slabs of snow two to three feet thick resting above very weak, collapsible snow below. Avoid slopes steeper than about 30 degrees that look filled-in or have a lens-shaped appearance. An avalanche triggered from a broad, wind-drifted area could break around you, and may provoke a failure in deeply buried weak snow. Signs of unstable snow like cracking or collapsing, and fresh avalanches are indicators to retreat to low-angled slopes without steeper terrain above you.