Bulletin d’avalanche

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
1 · Faible
Limite forestière
1 · Faible
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

The avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and at all elevations. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely but not impossible. Small avalanches could occur in steep isolated terrain. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering a persistent slab avalanche remains unlikely but not impossible. Dense slabs rest on top of facets/depth hoar near the ground on upper elevation northerly aspects.  It's been over two weeks since the last significant loading event, and faceted snow near the ground has been gaining strength.  Most extended column tests are not producing failures and obvious signs of instability like cracking and collapsing haven't been observed in a while.   All indications are pointing to this persistent weak layer being dormant for now until we get another significant loading event.   Avoid likely trigger points where the overlying slab is thinner, typically found on the margins, near rock outcrops, or on steep convex rolls. 

    Shallow snowpacks on northerly aspects are where you're more likely to impact faceted layers near the ground. 

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday evening's storm brought an inch or two of low-density snow.  Today will be partly cloudy with moderate west winds and better snow chances this evening that could bring up to 6 inches by tomorrow morning.  It's a welcome return to winter after the 2 weeks plus of high pressure to start January.  The avalanche danger remains low today, but that does not mean avalanches aren't possible in isolated areas.  Even during times of Low danger continue to practice safe travel protocols. Only expose one person at a time on steeper slopes, having an escape route while recreating on steep slopes. Select a safe location away from runout zones to congregate with your group and maintain good communication with your travel partners throughout the day.

The only avalanches observed yesterday were very small loose snow avalanches in steep terrain. Winds increased overnight and may have drifted the low-density snow into shallow wind slabs at upper elevations. Watch for cracking on the surface or obvious small wind-drifted pillows on the leeward sides of ridgelines. These would be small avalanches but could knock you off your feet and be consequential in steep exposed terrain.   

The new snow fell on a variety of different layers, from melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects, to stiff wind crusts at upper elevations and near-surface facets on northerly wind-sheltered slopes.   The firm surfaces are making for a slick bed surface that low-density snow can easily slide on. We have been observing faceting beneath some crusts, that once buried by a cohesive slab will become a bigger concern.  Some northerly aspects that are wind-sheltered have the top 20 to 30 cm consisting of loose facets from the prolonged high-pressure.  Yesterday I was finding this snow to be easy to push in steep terrain.  This makes for great riding, but "sluff" management is essential in consequential terrain.  With a little bit of more snow in the forecast later this evening, these interfaces may become more important in the coming days.

 Skiing and riding conditions are a mixed bag, with many slopes having dust on crust conditions from the recent warm weather and strong sun at our southern latitude. At upper elevations moderate to strong winds last week stiffened the surface with supportable hard slabs or breakable wind crust. You can still find deeper soft turns on wind-sheltered north-facing terrain.  

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