Northern San Juan

New snow and strong westerly winds increase your chances of triggering an avalanche in wind-drifted snow at upper elevations. Avoid steep slopes where you find 8 inches or more of drifted snow forming a slab over a firm crust. Cracking in the snow surface is a sign that the new snow is stiff enough to avalanche. Find safer travel on lower-angled slopes and in wind-sheltered terrain.

Warm temperatures and strong sunshine this weekend increase the likelihood of small loose avalanches on sunny slopes later in the day. Pinwheels and roller balls are an early warning sign to get off sunny slopes.