MARCH 18, 2024

NATURAL HAZARD CONSULTING

3/18/24

JOHNNY COUNTS ROAD HAZARD RATING

Issued: 03/18/24 at 0600hrs

Expires: 03/22/24 at 0559hrs

Rating:

LEVEL 3: AVALANCHE WATCH

Avalanche Forecast:

Avalanche activity above the road IS EXPECTED. Resulting avalanche debris reaching the road grade is LIKELY. Personal restrictions are in effect. Explosive mitigation may occur.

Travel Advisory:

The recommendation is to close the JC Road on Tuesday March 19th from 1600hrs until Friday March 22nd at 0600hrs. The hazard rating at that time will be at LEVEL 3: AVALANCHE WATCH.

Before reopening the JC Road, it is recommended that SRSCISD and/or GTPM staff sweep the road to inspect for avalanche debris affecting the roadway.

With the expiration of the closure, the next forecast and travel advisory will be issued at 0600hrs on Friday March 22nd.

Weather and Snowpack Summary:

During the past 7 days weather stations within 20 miles of the JC Road and at a similar elevation, have recorded temperatures as high as 53° F and as low as 11° F. Below freezing temperatures each night has allowed the snowpack to become more cohesive and gain strength.

Beginning the evening of Tuesday March 19th, temperatures are forecasted to be at or above freezing each night through Thursday March 21st. Additionally precipitation will return to the area during the late evening on Thursday March 21st and due to the warm temperatures may fall as rain. Lack of freezing temperatures coupled with rain, allows water to continuously move through the snowpack and decrease cohesion between the layers in the lower portion of the snowpack.

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Brenden Cronin