Eastside Region

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations.  Fully sunny skies and much lighter N winds should allow SE-S-SW facing slopes to soften more today, meaning minor loose-wet sloughing from your turns could have the potential to knock you off your feet. An isolated small stubborn wind slab may be found in upper elevation extreme terrain.    

Join ESAC forecaster Josh Feinberg virtually this Wednesday March 3rd at 6pm for a discussion on the U.S.'s deadly avalanche season, decision making, and our current snowpack.  Click here for more info.

Our cycle of clear-cold nights and sunny skies continues with the shifting variable being wind.  Winds have been shifting in both direction and intensity from W to N to NE for the past week from light to strong even at mid-elevations with periods of ridgetop gusts reaching 90mph. Despite little loose snow left for transport, small wind deposits have been forming in isolated areas. Be on the lookout for one of these if exploring extreme upper elevation terrain where triggering a stubborn small panel of wind slab could lead to a consequential fall.  Lighter winds should allow solar aspects (SE-S-SW) to warm and soften more today, but a solid overnight re-freeze will keep this from happening too quickly. If you are sinking in way past your boot-top recognize the potential for loose-wet sloughing in steep terrain that could take you off your feet and lead to a bad fall.   

Firm and variable conditions abound. Frozen slopes and firm windboards make crampons and a whippet or ice ax important tools to consider for travel in steeper terrain.

RECENT OBSERVATIONS

-2/27 – Mammoth – Sherwins: Snowpack and conditions.

-2/27 – Mammoth – Smugglers Notch: Widespread surface hoar, snowpack.

-2/26- Lee Vining – Dana Plateau: Substantial wind transport

-2/26- Lee Vining – V Bow: Warming

-2/26- Convict – Laural Mtn – Pinner Couloir: Directly East facing not softening