Bulletin d’avalanche

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

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

A scary moderate avalanche danger exists at all elevations due to persistent slab avalanches. Large human-triggered avalanches are possible today at all elevations. 2 to 4-foot slabs from last week's storm continue to stress the faceted persistent weak layers deeper down in the snowpack.  Don't get lured into chasing powder in steep terrain. Any avalanche triggered has the potential to be large and dangerous potentially taking with it the entire season's snowpack.  Pay attention to loud audible collapses and shooting cracks as these are indications of unstable snow. Sticking to low-angled terrain less than 35 degrees is a great way to stay safe.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    2 to 4-foot slabs from last week's storm snow rest on top of weak faceted snow deeper down in the snowpack or on the ground.  Below treeline, these slabs rest on top of an entirely faceted snowpack to the ground.  Near and above treeline faceted snow is sandwiched between hard slabs that formed from prior wind events. As we've seen with recent natural activity over the last week, these avalanches can propagate wide and fail or step down to faceted weak layers just above the ground.  

     Obvious signs of instability like collapsing and shooting cracks may not be the first sign of instability, especially where the weak layer is deep. It may not be the first person on the slope to trigger an avalanche, but may just take hitting the "sweet spot" where the slab is thinner and you can impact the weak layer. Always think of the consequences if you were to trigger an avalanche.  Avoid being on or beneath slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

    Faceted weak layers between harder slabs deeper down in the snowpack with last week's storm slabs on top.

Avalanche Discussion

Happy Groundhog Day! The last couple of days have felt more like spring than the beginning of February.  That trend will continue today with temperatures rising into the 30's and low 40's under partly cloudy skies before we see another storm moving into our mountains Wednesday afternoon. 

Snow from last week combined with winds has developed 2 to 4-foot slabs that formed on an overall shallow weak faceted snowpack.  Over the last week, we've had many natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches at all elevations that have failed on faceted snow near or on the ground. Some of these avalanches near and above treeline propagated wide distances and would've been unsurvivable. Natural avalanche activity has died down since Thursday and loud audible collapsing and shooting cracks are more isolated in travels. Warm temperatures and deepening snowpack should help heal and strengthen the weak layers in the long run, but it's going to take time as these facets slowly adjust to the recent load.  

So what does that mean for us over the next couple of days before the next storm? This is a scary moderate avalanche danger rating, where we have a lower likelihood of triggering a persistent slab avalanche but the consequences will be extremely high if you do trigger one of these (deep) persistent slabs. Above treeline on isolated slopes facing north or east if you hit a "sweet spot" where the snowpack is thinner on the margins of a slab or near a rock outcrop you could release an unmanageable large avalanche that could take with it the entire seasons snowpack. Hard slabs are often unpredictable and can break well above you.   Below treeline, persistent slab avalanches will be smaller but could have serious consequences in steep terrain if it sweeps you over a cliff or into a terrain trap.

With warm temperatures and sun poking through the high clouds today we may see wet loose snow avalanches in steep terrain on solar aspects.  These avalanches won't be big on their own but could be enough weight to step down into deeper weak layers creating a larger more destructive avalanche.   

If you are getting out continue to stay vigilant and not let your guard down in the search of powder.  Continue to practice good travel techniques, giving big avalanche paths wide berths and always thinking about the consequences if you were to trigger an avalanche.  Even a smaller avalanche can have serious implications if it sweeps you over a cliff or into a terrain trap.  Sticking to low angle wind-sheltered terrain without steep slopes above you is a great way to stay safe and enjoy the powder.  

Régions couvertes