Central Sierra Nevada

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1

  Increasing SW to W winds today will create areas of blowing snow in near treeline and above treeline terrain. Redistribution of snow on the ground will allow for the possibility of new wind slab formation. New wind slabs may be difficult to trigger today (stubborn or possibly unreactive).  New wind slabs will likely be small with a potential avalanche size of D1 expected (not large enough to bury a person). Consequences would come from being pushed into rocks or trees, over a cliff, or into a terrain trap.

  Identify and avoid areas of potentially unstable wind slab by looking for newly wind drifted snow. Slopes that have cornice features or wind pillows across the upper portion of the slope are the most suspect. Areas of snow surface cracking in near treeline and above treeline terrain are an additional indication of unstable snow.

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Unlikely

  Größe

  1

  Loose wet is an unlikely avalanche problem today but cannot be ruled out if strong solar radiation occurs simultaneously with near freezing air temperatures during the mid day or afternoon hours. This will be fairly dependent on how rapidly and to what extent sun obscuring cloud cover develops today.

  Look for natural or human triggered roller balls occurring in sun exposed, wind protected areas near treeline and below treeline on SE-S-SW aspects as the first sign of the potential for small (size D1) loose wet avalanches to occur.