Central Sierra Nevada

Avalanche activity remains unlikely at this time. Best practice, normal caution techniques for travel in backcountry avalanche terrain are advised.  Expect variable snow surface conditions and plenty of opportunities to encounter obstacles in the shallow snowpack.

For the time being, triggering an avalanche is an unlikely event. Best practice travel techniques associated with normal caution for travel in avalanche terrain are the way to go for maintaining an appropriate safety margin. Plenty of obstacles such as rocks, bushes, logs, stumps, small trees, and flowing creeks remain exposed or just barely covered, presenting a secondary hazard.

The snowpack varies across the forecast area in terms of snow surface conditions, snowpack structure, and depth. Above 7,200' to 7,500', many parts of the forecast area hold 2 to 3 feet of snow across NW-N-NE-E aspects. There is generally more snow in the northern Sierra Crest portion of the forecast area than in the southern or eastern portions of the forecast area.

Across SE-S-SW aspects, snow surface melt continues on a daily basis in a spring like diurnal melt-freeze cycle. Shaded, northerly aspect slopes are faceting at the surface and hold a few inches of soft snow. Surface hoar is widespread, especially low on the peaks where cold air pools overnight. Expect this surface hoar to be destroyed and reformed several more times before the next snowfall event.

The common theme in snowpack structure across the forecast area is a strong mid pack and weaker snow near the surface. In shallower snowpack areas above about 8,500', especially in the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area, a dormant weak layer of faceted snow lingers near the ground. Where the snowpack is deeper, such as along the northern portion of the Sierra Crest, significantly stronger snow exists at the bottom of the snowpack. Stronger snow at the bottom of the snowpack also exists in pretty much all snow covered areas at and below about 8,000' where significant rain on snow occurred in late November.