Lawinenlagebericht

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
4 · Gross
Waldgrenze
4 · Gross
Unterhalb
4 · Gross
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Kernpunkte

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist today. Large natural avalanches are likely at all elevations. Travel in or beneath avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Very Likely
    Größe
    2–3

    Strong to extreme southwest winds are expected to continue drifting new snow through at least this afternoon. Expect very large, natural avalanches on wind loaded slopes. These avalanches have the potential to step down into buried weak layers, producing even bigger avalanches that may propagate across slopes and run to valley bottoms. Travel in and beneath avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

    (1/4/2024)

    Wind slab avalanche.

    Photo: Everett Phillips

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    We've received up to 50" of snow and 6.5" of snow water equivalent in favored areas as of 5:30 am today. We expect heavy snowfall to continue throughout the morning before tapering later this afternoon. The new snow will remain unstable until loading rates decrease. Even sheltered slopes could be dangerous. Because we have buried weak layers in our snowpack, storm slab avalanches have the potential to break wider than expected. A smaller storm slab may break into buried weak layers, producing a large persistent slab avalanche. Travel in and below avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

    Photo: Steve Mace

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    2–4

    Buried weak layers have shown signs of instability since the last loading event. We can expect to see very large natural avalanches breaking deeper in the snowpack as loading by new snow and wind continues. In some areas, these avalanches could break near the ground, propagate across an entire slope, and run thousands of feet downhill. They will be unsurvivable. Persistent slab avalanches are difficult to predict, and can be triggered from terrain you might normally think of as safe. Travel in and beneath avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

    Large remotely triggered avalanche. North side of Dunderberg - N/NE Aspect 10400'

    Photo: High Sierra Snowcat

Avalanche Discussion

Our current storm system rolled in late Thursday night, and has produced up to 6.5" of snow water equivalent and 50" in Mammoth as of 5.30 am today. Current snowfall rates are showing up to 2" per hour in favored areas.

Today's key message: the storm is overloading our weak snowpack. Remain heads up to the potential for storm instabilities around town. Be wary around steep road cuts and underneath rooflines. Regardless of the avalanche type, we can expect large natural avalanches to occur until the loading diminishes. While the likelihood of natural avalanches will decrease as the storm begins to taper and our snowpack adjusts to the new load, human-triggered avalanches will remain likely, and the size potential will be just as large. 

 

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