Bulletin d’avalanche

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Points saillants

On northerly slopes near and above treeline is where you're most likely to find weak layers buried 2 to 4 feet down with dense slabs on top.  Recent snow and wind will continue to stress these deeper layers that may be more reactive than what we've been seeing over the last several weeks.  Avoiding slopes over 35 degrees on northerly aspects will help you manage this persistent slab problem.  Recent snow and moderate winds have created wind slabs at upper elevations on the leeward sides of ridgelines and on cross-loaded terrain features that can run on top of crusts that formed prior to these storms.  Avoid steep slopes where you find a foot or more of wind drifted snow. With warm temperatures and our intense sun, this time of year wet loose snow avalanches will become a concern by mid-day.  Pay attention to rollerballs and pinwheels in steep terrain as these are indications that the snow surface is becoming wet.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    Today will bring a return of the sun and warm weather with temperatures climbing into the 40's and 50's.  It won't take long for small loose wet snow avalanches to become a concern on steep solar aspects and lower elevation terrain. These types of avalanches typically start near rock bands as a point release and can fan out entraining more snow as it travels down the slope.  Pinwheels and rollerballs are indications that the snow surface is becoming wet and losing cohesion.   Getting an early start is not a bad idea to get off of steep slopes by the afternoon before they become wet and problematic. If you do encounter wet manky snow, head to a shadier aspect or think about calling it a day.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Buried faceted weak layers that are 2 to 4 feet down that formed during January/February dry period continue to linger on northerly aspects near and above treeline.  Spring storms over the last several days have added 1.5 - 1.7" of SWE . These weak layers will need time to adjust this latest round of loading. Persistent slab avalanches can break widely across terrain features and may be large enough to injure or bury you. It may not be the first or second person on a slope to trigger an avalanche but may take just hitting that "sweet spot".    Avoid likely trigger points on the margins of the slab and near rock outcroppings as these are the more likely places for you to impact deeper weak layers. 

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Recent snow and moderate winds out of the W/SW have created wind slabs near and above treeline on the leeward sides of ridges and in cross-loaded terrain. We've seen lots of graupel with these storms that can pool beneath cliffs and on gentler terrain acting as a good weak layer for these slabs on top to fail on. These wind slabs sit on top of crusts that formed from the warm weather earlier in the week and may provide a good bed surface.  Avoid steep slopes where you find obvious wind drifted pillows or a stiffening of the snow surface.  A smaller wind slab avalanche has the potential to step down into deeper weak layers creating a larger more destructive avalanche. 

    W/SW winds have been in the 15 -25 mph range with gusts in the 30's.  Moderate west winds will continue to drift snow today.

Avalanche Discussion

A series of storms since Tuesday has brought 11 - 15 inches of snow with about 1.5 - 1.7" of SWE, which has included lots of graupel.   Overnight temperatures are in the low 20's at all elevations which is one of the better refreezes we've had in some time at lower elevations.  Today will be a beautiful sunny spring-like day with temperatures climbing into the 40s and 50s with moderate west winds at higher elevations.   

 

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