Bollettino valanghe

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

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2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
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Sotto il limite
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In sintesi

At upper elevations is where you'll find wind-drifted slabs as strong westerly winds have drifted the lower-density snow from Thursday's storm into slabs on the surface. Watch for obvious wind-drifted pillows and stiffening of the snow underfoot that may feel hollow or sound drummy. Most of these wind slabs will be found on the leeward sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded terrain features. Deeper down in the snowpack facets and depth hoar near the ground continues to linger, especially near and below treeline.  Avoid slopes where you get obvious signs of instability like loud audible collapses and shooting cracks.  Sticking to lower-angled wind-sheltered terrain will provide better and safer riding conditions.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

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

     Strong winds have drifted snow into thicker and denser wind slabs at upper elevations.  Avoid slopes where you find obvious wind-drifted pillows, slabs that feel stiff or hollow underfoot, and shooting cracks on the surface.  These wind slabs will mainly be found on the leeward sides of ridgelines (east-facing terrain) and cross-loaded terrain features. These slabs have formed on top of firm crusts from very strong wind events prior to this latest round of snow which may provide a good bed surface for avalanches to run on.  An avalanche near the surface has the potential to step down into deeper weak layers creating a larger more destructive avalanche. 

    Watch for cornices to continue to grow and can break back further than you might expect on ridgelines as well as provide a big trigger to slopes below. 

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Facets and depth hoar continue to linger near the ground, especially on some slopes near and below treeline.  These elevation bands had shallow and thin snowpacks prior to storms in mid-February. Recently formed slabs rest on top of these persistent weak layers that we've seen become problematic with each of the last significant storm systems over the last couple of weeks.  At upper elevations, the snowpack is deeper and denser with hard slabs from strong wind events throughout the season. In some pits, I was finding stubborn weak layers sandwiched between slabs.   It may take you finding a likely trigger point on the margins of the slab, near rock outcrops to trigger an avalanche. These avalanches would be large and able to propagate widely across the slope or terrain features. Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like loud audible collapses and shooting cracks.  

Avalanche Discussion

SW winds are going to be cranking today, where we could see gusts in the 60 to 70 mph range.  West-facing slopes are mainly stripped and there isn't much snow left to be transported, but strong winds over the last several days have created 1 to 2-foot stiff slabs on the surface, especially on east-facing slopes.  Unfortunately, windy, dry weather is forecasted through Wednesday.  

 

Faceted weak layers and depth hoar near the ground, have become problematic with each significant storm we've seen this year.  The storm last week which brought a foot of snow and strong winds, produced several large natural avalanches. A similar story unfolded with the Valentine's Day storm, with a very close call from a human-triggered avalanche in below treeline terrain on a northerly aspect.  Below and near treeline terrain is where the snowpack was shallow prior to this latest round of storms.  In some cases, the entire snowpack comprised of facets before being buried by slabs since Valentines day. On these slopes, persistent weak layers near the ground have been slow to heal and strengthen. This terrain continues in my opinion to remain the most suspect for persistent slab avalanches. We haven't seen the natural avalanche activity with this latest storm, but it may just require a little extra from you to get these weak layers to collapse.  

At upper elevations, the snowpack is a little more complex. Some slopes have much deeper snowpacks and deeper weak layers have been less of a concern as they have been difficult to trigger under denser hard slabs from strong wind events during the season. However, slabs and snowpack depths are not uniform across slopes as strong winds this year have stripped and scoured some slopes and loaded others.  It may just take you finding a "sweet spot" where the overall slab is thinner on the margins of the slab or near rock outcrops.  Avalanche paths that ran earlier in the season could also be more suspect.  

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