Bollettino valanghe

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
Vedi sulla mappa

Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
Open full map
Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 2 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Steep slopes with wind-drifted stiff snow that sits above weak faceted layers in the upper 30 cm of the snowpack pose the greatest concern today.  These avalanches would be smaller but could break widely across the slope and may break well above you.  Pay attention to cracking and collapsing as these are indications you've found this strong over weak snowpack structure.  In shallow snowpacks, it still remains possible to trigger an avalanche on deeper buried weak layers near the ground. Avoid the margins of the slab or rock outcroppings as these are areas where you're more likely to impact weak layers.  Safer skiing and riding options can be found below treeline. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The persistent slab problem is becoming more complex and migrating up in the snowpack.  Faceted crusts and buried near surface facets in the upper 15 to 30 cm of the snowpack have become more widespread and reactive over the last 10-day dry period. With additional loading this afternoon and tonight these shallow-buried weak layers will become more concerning.

    Deeper down in the snowpack, depth hoar, and the early January drought facet layer continue to produce moderate to hard results in extended column tests where the snowpack is generally less than 1.5 m.  These layers will be more difficult to impact and trigger but if you did would produce a large avalanche failing on or near the ground.  Avoid likely trigger points on the margins of the slab and near rock outcroppings as these will be the areas you're more likely to impact deeper buried weak layers.  A probe pole can be a useful tool to identify snowpack depths on the slope you plan to play on. 

    Near-surface facets and faceted crusts that formed during the end of February and early March dry periods have become our new persistent weak layer of concern.  

    This snowpit on a NE aspect near treeline failed on 3 taps with full propagation. 

    (3/7/2024) Photo: Andy Bond

Avalanche Discussion

It's been almost a month with little to no moisture and periods of strong winds, so it's a welcome return to winter today with a system expected to bring 3 to 6 inches. Unfortunately, we don't look to be big winners with higher snow amounts forecasted to our south and west, but at this point, we'll take whatever we can get. This system is coming in with east winds from the associated back door cold front and upsloping and we may see loading in atypical places if winds pick up.  There are still some uncertainties as to how much snow we'll get and it may vary even from drainage to drainage.  Snow looks to pick up this afternoon into the early evening so we'll keep our fingers crossed that it overproduces for us.   

Skiing and riding conditions have been pretty bleak, with crusts on solar aspects and firm hard pressed surfaces at upper elevations, Pine bows are strewn about everywhere from the strong wind events at the end of February and early March, and dust layers on the surface are present on some slopes. North and shady aspects near and below treeline have the best conditions with near-surface facets providing some soft "recycled powder" turns. 

The end of February and early March dry periods have had big impacts on the upper portions of the snowpack, forming crusts and near surface facets that got buried by the February 27th storm.  Over the last ten days of big diurnal temperature swings weak facets have formed around the crusts and are now buried 10 to 30 cm below the surface. Yesterday in travels these weak layers were failing with easy force in extended column tests and will be our next persistent weak layer of concern going forward especially once we put a load and slab on top.  Upper elevations that haven't seen above-freezing temperatures with hard wind-pressed slabs will be the most concerning today. 

The persistent weak layers that have plagued us throughout the season deeper in the snowpack, continue to remain present in shallower snowpacks (<1.5m).  These layers have been failing with moderate to hard force in extended column tests and continue to produce short results in long PSTs. Since we haven't had much loading over the last month, these layers are most likely lying dormant for the most part, but could become more reactive with a significant storm. 

It sure will be nice to remember to winter feels like and it looks like this storm won't be coming in with much wind compared to our last storm at the end of February.  Another potentially significant storm is on the horizon for the middle to end of next week.  With the storm coming this afternoon and evening, skiing and riding conditions should improve for Saturday. 

Regioni coperte