MARCH 22, 2024

NATURAL HAZARD CONSULTING

3/22/24

JOHNNY COUNTS ROAD HAZARD RATING

Issued: 03/22/24 at 0600hrs

Expires: 03/25/24 at 0559hrs

Rating:

LEVEL 2: AVALANCHE STATEMENT

Avalanche Forecast:

Avalanche activity above the road MAY OCCUR. Resulting avalanche debris reaching the road grade is POSSIBLE but NOT LIKELY.

Travel Advisory:

Through travel only in the JC Road corridor, do not stop vehicles.

It is recommended that any person operating equipment in the corridor wear an avalanche transceiver and have access to rescue equipment.

Weather and Snowpack Summary:

During the past 7 days the snowpack has settled at rate of 1” per day because of the melt freeze cycle, with average low temperatures of 16° F and average high temperatures of 50° F. This cycle slowed the movement of liquid water in the snowpack and as a result avalanche activity was minimal.

Avalanche mitigation conducted on Wednesday March 20th produced very small results, none of which impacted the roadway. The lack of notable results indicates that the strength of the snowpack has increased.

An active weather pattern is forecasted through the weekend with the peak in precipitation occurring mid-day, Saturday March 23rd and into the early morning of Sunday March 24th. Precipitation will fall as rain during that time before transitioning to snow late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.

Rain may accelerate the movement of liquid water on the weak layers within the snowpack and subsequently lead to small wet slide avalanche activity.

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Brenden Cronin