Central Sierra Nevada

Recent strong winds throughout the forecast region have made for variable snow surface conditions in exposed terrain.  Avalanches remain unlikely today.  Use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry, including best practice travel techniques for travel in avalanche terrain.

Normal caution

Recent strong to gale force winds the past week have made for highly variable snow surface conditions in near and above treeline areas, with some wind scouring extending down into open below treeline terrain.  Large areas of scoured icy surfaces, uneven carved snow, and stiff hard wind slabs exist in wind exposed locations.  Winds have switched from the NE to the W this morning and will increase in speed this afternoon with moderate to strong ridge gusts.  While some light blowing snow may occur, snow available for wind transport is limited with no new wind slab development expected.  Avalanche activity continues to remain unlikely. 

Areas of soft, cold snow exist on northerly aspects in the most wind protected areas below treeline.  Most of these areas are in the lower to mid elevation range with snow surface conditions being helped by the colder temperatures and near surface faceting occurring at some of these locations.  Make a plan with your group before heading out into the backcountry that takes the current conditions into account.  As always, look for changing conditions and signs of instability while moving through terrain. 

Recent Observations:

• No new reports of avalanches have come in since  Jan 21.
• Surface hoar has been forming and reported in some areas during the dry period this week.  A storm is in the forecast for Sunday with the potential for burial.
• Melt-freeze crusts are starting to form on southerly aspects.  In some areas, these thin crusts exist over dry and cold snow below with still transitional snow conditions.  Other areas are starting to have thicker melt-freeze crusts develop.