Northern New Mexico

Generally safe avalanche conditions exist today.  Triggering a small avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. Avoid slopes where you find stiff supportable slabs on top of weak faceted snow.  Steep slopes Near and Below treeline are where you may find snowpacks that have cohesionless weak snow throughout.  It's on these slopes that you may create a small Loose Dry snow avalanche. Any ride right now would be small but could have serious consequences from lots of natural hazards on the ground with our shallow snowpack.   

The last several days have felt more like mountain biking or rock climbing weather in April than it does the beginning of December. Temperatures should warm above freezing today at all elevations with light winds.   These warm temperatures and sun are not helping keep our lower elevation snow below 10,000' on anything but north aspects. Approaches to higher elevation terrain are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate until we get more snow at these lower elevations.  

Moderate East/ Northeast winds from Dec 2 - 4 have created stiff cohesive slabs above treeline. On some slopes, these stubborn slabs rest on top of a shallow weak faceted snowpack.   Look for wind drifted pillows and stiffening of the snow surface that may feel hollow or sound drummy.  Obvious red flags such as collapses and shooting cracks are indications you've found unstable snow. Think about what the consequences of releasing one of these small pockets would be before committing to a slope. 

The last week of high pressure has done a lot to change our snowpack.  An overall faceting process has kicked into full gear with big temperature swings from the warm sunny days and cold clear nights. Near and below treeline,  we have a relatively shallow snowpack (2-3 feet) that has become weak faceted snow throughout.  In steeper terrain, it's easy to get this cohesionless snow to start moving downhill where it easily entrains itself, sometimes to the ground.  These small faceted "sluffs" may be big enough to take you off your feet and move you places you don't want to go.

With how things currently stand with the snowpack. When snow does return (fingers crossed for this weekend) it won't take much to increase the avalanche danger.  

Lower angled terrain less than 35 degrees on wind-sheltered slopes near treeline offer some good skiing and riding right now. It's just the beginning of December with an overall shallow snowpack.  Natural obstacles such as rocks and downed timber continue to be hazards.