Central Sierra Nevada

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  Solar radiation from strong March sunshine and warming temperatures will develop a wet loose avalanche problem today.  Wet loose avalanches are possible on sun exposed slopes as daytime warming occurs.  Roller balls and pinwheels along with larger wet loose avalanches that entrain sizeable amounts of snow will become possible.  Sun exposed slopes will become increasingly unstable as daytime warming occurs today with full sunshine.

  Even small wet loose avalanches can have consequences, especially if you are above a terrain trap (rocks, trees, cliffs, gullies, etc).  Larger slopes will have the potential for bigger and longer running wet loose avalanches.  As the snow surface becomes wet, it's time to change aspects or move off of avalanche terrain. 

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  Lingering wind slabs on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects continue to pose concerns for today.  A density change in the previous storm snow with high elevation rain/heavy wet snow has created a more dense layer over weaker snow.  Snowpack test results in some areas show continued weakness on this layer.  Rapid warming and intense solar radiation may further weaken these bonds where these wind slabs exist on sun exposed slopes.  To a lesser extent, winds have shifted to the NE overnight into the moderate to strong range.  They are forecasted to decrease back to the light range later this morning.  Limited snow exists for wind transport, but small amounts of snow may have been blown to SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects forming additional small wind slabs.

  Look for blowing snow and snow surface clues to see where wind transport has been occurring.  Cracking in the surface snow could indicate the presence of wind slab.  Give a wide safety margin to large cornices that exist along most ridgelines throughout the forecast area.