Southern San Juan

The most problematic slopes are northerly and east-facing near and above treeline where a cohesive slab of snow sits on top of very weak snow near the ground. An avalanche triggered in a wind-drifted area may break wider across the slope and deeper than you expect. The most dangerous spots look filled-in, rounded, or pillow-shaped below ridgelines, in gullies, and on the backside of steep rollovers. Cracking in the snow surface, rumbling collapses, or recent avalanche activity are indicators of which slopes to avoid. Safer travel options exist on southerly-facing terrain or slopes less than about 30 degrees in steepness.

A large winter storm begins to impact the Southern Mountains overnight Thursday lasting through the weekend. Expect the avalanche danger to rise quickly as snow and wind build dangerous slabs of snow onto a weak snowpack.