Bollettino valanghe

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Triggering a persistent slab avalanche remains possible on northwest through east-facing terrain at all elevations.  2 to 4 - foot slabs rest on top of weak faceted snow leading to this strong over weak snowpack structure. Strong winds continue to stiffen the surface into hard slabs that can oftentimes break in unpredictable ways and propagate wide distances. Any avalanche triggered would be large enough to bury, injure or kill you.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.  Avoiding being on or connected to slopes steeper than 35 degrees will help mitigate the hazard.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    2 to 4 - foot slabs from the end of January snowstorms rest on top of several faceted weak layers and depth hoar near the ground.  Although it's been a week since the last significant loading event and natural avalanche activity has quieted down, the weak faceted snow continues to be slow to gain strength and start to heal. The persistent slab problem can be found at all elevations and there is a chance if you were to trigger an avalanche that the entire season's snowpack could be coming with it.  Below treeline, these avalanches may be smaller could have serious consequences if they take you over a cliff or bury you in a terrain trap. 

    Take the time to dig down into the snow to assess if this strong over weak snowpack structure exists.  Obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks and loud audible collapses may not be present in travels. Avoid being on or connected to slopes steeper than 35 degrees as you may be able to trigger an avalanche from below.  Where the weak layers are deeper down in the snowpack the most likely place to trigger an avalanche is on the margins where the slab is thinner and near rock outcrops

    End of January storm snow rests on top of several layers of weak faceted snow that continue to fail and propagate with easy to moderate force.

Avalanche Discussion

It's been a rollercoaster ride for weather since the middle of January, where the biggest storm of the season close to doubled our snowpack.  This significant storm built slabs and put a big stress on the weak faceted snow that existed earlier in the season. During this storm, we had a widespread natural avalanche cycle where most slopes ran at all elevations but not all.  Spring-like weather to begin February with warm temperatures reaching the mid 40's and intense sun has impacted the snow surface with melt-freeze crusts on West, South and East aspects.  A quick-hitting storm Thursday morning brought 1 to 3 inches of snow with strong westerly winds that will continue for the next couple of days.

Strong westerly winds over the last several days continue to create stiffening slabs near and above treeline mainly on north and east aspects. Winds and snow have filled in many avalanche paths that make deciphering what had previously run very difficult. These newly formed slabs are forming on the old firm bed surface potentially making for a good sliding surface.  We did get a report of a small slab avalanche on an easterly aspect yesterday above treeline. Pay attention to the changing of the snow surface hardness.  These hard slabs can break in unpredictable ways oftentimes well above you as well as potentially wider than you might expect.

The weak faceted snow we've been talking about all season continues to be a concern as it's going to take time before we start to see these layers fully heal and strengthen.  In recent snowpits, we are finding the January storm snow over a layer cake of faceted weak layers and depth hoar sandwiched between slabs/crusts and in some cases depth hoar to the ground.  It's this strong over weak layer that is so concerning. In long column tests, we continue to get these weak layers to fail and propagate with easy to moderate force.  Although, it's becoming more difficult to trigger an avalanche the consequences still remain incredibly high. Even if you trigger a smaller avalanche there is the possibility that it could step down into deeper weak layers creating a larger more destructive avalanche.

It's hard to trust this poor snowpack structure of strong over weak and with so much variability you'll need to take the time to assess what the snowpack structure is before committing to a slope. It's a good idea to give this avalanche problem a wide berth and travel conservatively and cautiously in and around avalanche terrain. If you don't like what you find in your assessment you can always stick to low angle wind-sheltered terrain which is safer and also where the better skiing and riding is currently. 

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