Central Sierra Nevada

Slab avalanches are unlikely today. Very small, shallow sluffs of wet or dry snow could be triggered in steep terrain. Adjust your travel plans and terrain selection if you encounter cracking, deep slush, or other unexpected conditions.

Normal caution

In steep terrain, it is possible to trigger very small, shallow sluffs of wet snow or dry snow depending on the surface conditions (sunny and warm vs shaded and cold). A wide range of snow surfaces exist across the forecast area. Adjust your travel plans and terrain selection if you encounter cracking, deep slush, or other unexpected conditions.

Observations and data from across the forecast area indicate that the snowpack continues to consolidate and gain strength. The last reported slab avalanche large enough to bury a person occurred on Jan 8. Minor, isolated areas of blowing snow and small wet snow instabilities have occurred in recent days.  Highly variable snow surfaces exist across the region. Melt-freeze conditions exist on slopes with fairly direct sun exposure. Slopes that face away from the sun hold softer, dry snow, especially where wind protected. Expect to encounter a wide mix of surface conditions in the areas that border on wind protected vs wind exposed, and on sun exposed vs shaded.

Deep open holes, open creeks, and ponded water persist around the forecast area, mainly below 8,000' in low-lying areas. These hazards also exist in isolated distribution at higher elevations.