Bollettino valanghe

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Alta quota
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Limite del bosco
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In sintesi

Another round of strong SW winds and snow will continue to stress weak faceted snow near the ground on northerly and east-facing terrain near and above treeline.  Human triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible on northerly and east aspects.  Cracking and loud audible collapses are indications you've found this unstable snowpack structure of strong over weak.  Watch for wind slabs on the leeward sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded that may appear loaded.  Avoid being on or connected to slopes steeper than 30 degrees.  Avalanches could break on or near the ground and could be large enough to injure or bury you. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Strong winds and new snow today will continue to stress deeper weak layers. Stiffer slabs now rest on top of weak faceted snow on or near the ground leading to a poor snowpack structure of strong over weak. These basal facets were mainly confined to northerly and east aspects near and above treeline, but may also be found below treeline on north aspects. Human triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely today.   Shooting cracks and loud audible collapses are indications you've found this unstable snowpack structure of strong over weak.  It's possible to remotely trigger an avalanche from below or an adjacent slope.  Avoid being on or below slopes steeper than 30 degrees today, giving avalanche path runouts wide berths.  Avalanches may break on or near the ground and could be large enough to injure or bury you. 

    Stiffer supportable slabs from the Christmas Eve storm rest on top of weak faceted on or near the ground

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1

    Another round of strong SW winds and 2 to 5 inches of snow will drift snow into stiffening wind slabs near and above treeline on north, northeast, and east aspects. These are also the slopes with persistent slab avalanche problems.  Avoid the leeward sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded gullies where thick wind drifted pillows and slabs are forming.  Pay attention to bulls-eye clues like shooting cracks on the surface. These slabs may fail within the new snow, but can quickly step down into deeper weak layers producing a larger more destructive avalanche.    

Avalanche Discussion

The Christmas Eve storm has quickly changed conditions in the backcountry with 12 to 20 inches of snow and 2 to 3" of snow water equivalent (SWE).  This wet heavy dense snow has created stiff supportable slabs making travel easy and providing a really good base with little ski penetration.  In travels yesterday, new snow ranged from 1 to 2 feet in depth. With another round of strong SW winds reaching 70 mph and 2 and 5 inches of new snow forecasted today, expect slabs to continue to build and stiffen on the surface.  Added weight will continue to stress the weak basal facets near the ground and could push us towards a tipping point with another round of natural avalanches.    

We did observe and get reports of natural avalanche activity that had run sometime Friday evening.  This was not a widespread event but did happen at all elevations and was limited to only northerly aspects.  Explosive work yesterday produced numerous size 2 avalanches breaking on or near the ground (3-foot crowns) and propagating wide distances.  The common theme is that all the avalanches were failing on the basal facet layers on northerly and east aspects. 

In travels, we were getting loud collapses and "whumpfs" along with shooting cracks traveling long distances.   It doesn't appear that we've hit the tipping point on many slopes, but may be getting close as stability results were producing easy results with full propagation in extended column tests.  Using a ski pole is an effective tool to feel for the strong over weak layering in the snowpack.   Sticking to South and west aspects should provide safer travel, as new snow fell predominately on bare ground on these slopes.  Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential today.   

It's been a slow start to the season, but 2021 is exiting with a bang.  Today will be the second of four storms forecasted to impact the area by New Years Day.  The season is just getting started and don't get lured into pushing into steep terrain right off the bat.  Wind sheltered lower angle terrain has great skiing and riding right now. Stay safe and happy holidays!  

 

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