Central Sierra Nevada

Avalanches remain unlikely today.  Wet snow is expected to form on sun exposed slopes as daytime warming occurs with limited wet snow instabilities expected.  Make a plan with your group focusing on the current snow surface conditions and practice safe travel protocols.

Normal caution

Limited avalanche concerns continue throughout the forecast region along with great weather for backcountry travel.  Expect and plan to encounter variable snow surfaces with the potential for challenging travel conditions in some areas.  Have a plan with options and adjust if conditions have deteriorated or are unexpected.

Cold soft snow exists where near surface faceting is occurring, mainly on shaded northerly aspects.  Melt freeze crusts can be found on SE-S-SW aspects with firm snow this morning, softening as daytime warming occurs.  Variable conditions can be found between where winter and spring snow exists including a variety of crusts and wind scoured surfaces.  Heavily used areas with refrozen tracks and refrozen tree drippings under dense tree cover can have especially poor travel conditions.

Wet snow has been forming consistently on sun exposed slopes due to daytime warming with only minor wet snow instabilities expected for today.  Snow coverage loss has accelerated with more exposed dirt, rock, and obstacles becoming visible at lower elevations and on sunny aspects.  Available south facing terrain has become more limited as many of these slopes have melted out.  Open water, creeks, and holes continue to exist in low lying areas.