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

Warm temperatures today and and night time temps hovering around freezing will bring wet snow avalanche concerns into focus today.  Most of the avalanche activity will be smaller loose wet snow avalanches in the upper portions of the snowpack. As we approach several days above freezing the concern for larger wet slab avalanches is growing as water is percolating deeper down in the snowpack and lubricating facets near crusts or weak layers deeper down in the snowpack.  Pay attention to rollerballs and pinwheels and where you start to punch in past your boot tops in wet snow.  Consider getting an early start to avoid wet snow avalanches later in the day.

Deeper down in the snowpack, faceted weak layers continue to linger on northerly and east aspect with stubborn slabs above.  Warning signs like loud audible collapses and shooting cracks most likely will not be present, but these types of persistent slab avalanches can break widely across terrain features.  Avoid likely trigger points on the margins of the slab and near rock outcrops as these are places you are more likely to impact deeper weak layers.  It may not be the first or second person on the slope to trigger an avalanche but just finding that right "sweet spot" of slab/weak layer combination. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Faceted weak layers from the January/February dry periods are buried beneath 2 to 4-foot slabs from snow we received at the end of Feb/early March. These weak layers are showing signs of healing and strengthening and becoming more stubborn to being triggered. Recent stability tests are producing hard force or not failing at all on 4F hard rounding facets. These types of conditions can be tricky as obvious signs of instability most likely will not be present and it could be the third or fourth person on the slope to find that "sweet spot" to release an avalanche.  However, if you do trigger a persistent slab avalanche there is potential that it could be large and destructive.  Warm temperatures also do weird things to the snowpack and make triggering an avalanche on these deeper layers more likely. Steep northerly and east aspects continue to remain the bulls-eye for lingering persistent slab concerns. Avoid areas on the margins of the slab and near rock outcroppings, as these are likely trigger points where you're able to impact these weak layers  

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Temperatures overnight just barely dropped below freezing and will quickly climb today, allowing free water to continue to drive deeper in the snowpack. As water percolates deeper down into the snowpack it can pool and lubricate on buried faceted crusts.  Unlike dry snow, if you dig a quick pit, you'll be able to wring water out of these wet or moist facets.  Avoid steep slopes where you are punching in past your boot tops.  These types of avalanches can be difficult to predict and often times are very destructive. With warm temperatures forecasted over the next several days, this problem will become more concerning as we stack up more hours above freezeing. 

    An example of a wet slab avalanche from last year's spring warm up.   

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm temperatures and the intense sun this time of year will quickly make the snow surface wet.  Like clockwork, as the sun rises east-facing slopes will heat up first, transitioning to the south and finally west aspects.  North facing slopes below treeline should also feel the impacts of warm temperatures today.  Watch out for rollerballs and pinwheels and wet manky snow that is above your boot-top or slopes that are directly in the sun as these are indications that the snow surface is becoming wet and the concern for wet snow avalanches is increasing. Loose wet snow avalanches typically start a small point release in steeper terrain underneath rocks that can quickly fan out entraining more snow making it difficult to get out of the way.  If you notice the snow getting wet, either head to a shadier aspect or it may be time to call it a day. This type of avalanche may happen naturally or be human-triggered today.

    Loose wet snow avalanches like these typically start as small point releases near rock bands and fan out as they travel down the slope.

Avalanche Discussion

 Yesterday temperatures climbed into the 40's and 50's with overnight temps just barely dipping below freezing.  Today will bring even warmer temepratures and will quickly climb into the 40 - 60 degree faranheight range.  The snow today will quickly become wet and manky by mid-morning, so if you are trying to get out for a spring day in the mountains you'll want to get an early start and finish up quickly. Wet slabs are becoming a bigger concern without the presence of a solid refreeze at night.  This allows water to percolate deeper down into the snowpack and creating wet or moist faceted snow deeper down in the snowpack with stronger slabs on top.  This is a difficult problem to identify in the field and the consequences can be severe, as wet slabs can be very destructive and hard to get out of.  

Be aware of overhanging cornices that are warming up and softening with this warm weather.  Cornices may break back further than expected on ridgelines or may release naturally that can act as a big trigger on the slopes below.  Avoid traveling on steep slopes directly below cornices this weekend.  

If you're heading to higher elevation north-facing slopes to avoid the wet snow concerns, continue to be aware of facets deeper down in the snowpack that formed during the January/February dry period and have 2 to 4 foot dense slabs on top.   There is still a chance that you could find the right slab/weak layer combination to produce a large persistent slab avalanche in this terrain.    

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