Southern San Juan

A potent spring snowstorm on Tuesday night will dramatically change conditions in the mountains and increase the avalanche danger. You can trigger avalanches where southwest winds form fresh slabs on steep, leeward slopes at upper elevations. The most dangerous slopes are north, northeast, and east-facing, where slabs will form over firm, old snow surfaces.

The new snow is expected to start warm and bond well to the old snow surface, but if you find more than a foot of dry, unconsolidated new snow, you could trigger small loose avalanches in steep terrain. You can find safer travel in wind-sheltered areas or on lower-angled slopes.