Central Sierra Nevada

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  Near to above overnight freezing temperatures, decreasing NE winds, and warmer daytime temperatures today should all increase wet snow instabilities.  Transitional and variable snow surface conditions exist on most aspects.  Melt freeze crusts have started to form on some lower elevation southerly aspects, but at this point are not well developed or widespread.  The strong sunshine will quickly melt through any surface crusts and expose more wet snow.  Unstable wet snow could form earlier, involving deeper layers of the upper snowpack with the potential for larger wet loose avalanches today.

  Roller balls, pinwheels, and sinking into boot-top deep wet snow can indicate that enough wet snow exists for wet loose avalanches to occur.  When the snow starts to feel wet and mushy, it's time to switch to a different aspect where the snow remains colder or move to lower-angle slopes without steep sunny slopes above.

  

• 

  Cornices

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  Large cornices exist along many ridgelines throughout the forecast region.  These cornices will continue to become weaker from the warmer temperatures and strong sunshine this week.  Recent NE winds have eroded some of these cornices, but in other areas they still remain very large in size.  Large falls or chucks of cornice blocks could result from any cornice collapse with the potential for severe consequences.

  Cornice collapses almost always surprise people. They can fail farther back from the edge than expected and break wider than expected. If your route takes you along a corniced ridge, keep exposed rocks or trees between you and the cornice edge. Also, be wary of traveling on slopes under cornices. It's best to avoid these slopes, but if you have to travel on them, spend as little time as possible doing so.