Northern San Juan

Dense new snow is adding stress to a weak, cohesionless snowpack. The most dangerous slopes are steeper than about 30 degrees with around 10 inches of new snow. While most avalanches will be small because of how shallow the snowpack is, avalanches can grow larger on previously wind-drifted slopes where slabs of snow are thicker and broader across the terrain. Shallowly buried weak snow layers increase your chance to trigger an avalanche from a distance, so place a wide buffer between you and steeper slopes or large avalanche paths. Adjust your travels to low-angled slopes if you see signs of unstable snow like shooting cracks or audible collapses.