Bollettino valanghe

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Warm temperatures and the intense sun will bring wet snow avalanches back to the forefront today below treeline and on steep solar aspects. Pay attention to obvious clues of the snow surface warming like rollerballs, pinwheels, and wet manky snow. Either head to a shadier aspect, or consider calling it a day. Faceted weak layers around crusts and wind stiffened surfaces rest below 2 to 3-foot slabs from the recent snow.  These weak layers continue to be reactive in stability tests and were the main culprit for many large avalanches earlier in the week.  Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks and collapsing.  Take the time to dig down into the snow to assess if these weak layers are present before committing to a slope. If you find any instabilities present, avoid being on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Faceted snow that developed prior to last weekend's storm formed around melt-freeze crusts and harder wind-packed surfaces.  These weak layers are now buried by the 2 to 3 feet of snow we've received in the last week.  There were several large natural avalanches on these layers from early Monday.  Areas, near and above treeline that have seen the most amount of wind loading typically on the leeward sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded terrain should be considered suspect and the most likely slopes to trigger a persistent slab avalanche.  Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks and collapsing.  You can also dig quick snowpits in the top 100 cm to assess if these weak layers are present before committing to a slope. These faceted weak layers will be found around these crusts.  A persistent slab avalanche would be large (2 to 4 feet thick)  and has the potential to propagate wide distances across the slope.  

  • Loose Wet

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

    Another day with warm temperatures and the intense sun this time of year, will bring the concern for loose wet snow avalanches on solar aspects and terrain below treeline.  Temperatures will quickly climb this morning, where the snow surface below treeline will quickly become wet.  At higher elevations, like clockwork, as the sun rises, east-facing slopes will be impacted first transitioning to the south and finally west-facing slopes later in the day. Wet snow avalanches tend to start as a small point release below rock bands and can quickly fan out entraining more snow as it moves down the slope. Natural avalanches are possible, be aware of travel on or below steep slopes that are directly in the sun. 

    Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like rollerballs and pinwheels on the surface or the snow becoming wet and gloppy.  Either head to a shadier aspect or it may be time to head home for the day.    

    Rollerballs on an east-facing slope yesterday around 11 AM. Pinwheels, rollerballs, and slopes in the direct sun are all indications that the snow surface is becoming wet and gloppy.

Avalanche Discussion

Spring has fully taken over here in northern New Mexico, with warm sunny days and light winds. Temperatures today should climb quickly into the 40's and low 50's. Yesterday, it didn't take much time (11 AM) for the surface snow to quickly warm up and become wet and manky below treeline and on east aspects. The dreaded transitions between wet and cold dry snow, made for difficult travel, that even repeated rounds of glob stopper couldn't help.  A friend said it best in the parking lot around 1 PM yesterday saying, "I got out of there just in time".  It's a good reminder that this time of year you need to get early starts and plan on getting out before wet snow avalanches become a concern and travel becomes increasingly difficult.  

The new concern for the persistent slab problem has transitioned higher up in the snowpack than the deeper facets near the ground that have plagued us most of the season. 1 to 2 mm facets have formed around crusts from last week's high pressure.  Several large natural and explosive triggered avalanches on these weak layers at all elevations mainly on NW through E and SE aspects earlier in the week serves as a good reminder that these layers are reactive.  In stability tests, we continue to get these layers to fail and propagate with easy to moderate force as they continue to adjust to this latest round of snow. Warm temperatures and more time should help this problem, but with another active weather pattern shaping up for next week, these weak layers may be with us a while longer. 

  

 

   

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