Lawinenlagebericht

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Avalanches of wet loose snow will become possible on steep slopes again today once it warms up. If the snow surface feels wet or you see signs of unstable wet snow like roller balls or pinwheels, it's time to move to a colder area or recreate on less steep slopes. While unlikely, unstable snow might also still linger on an isolated terrain feature filled in with wind-blown snow. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    Pay attention to the snow as the day warms up. Once it starts to feel wet, or you start to see other indicators of wet surface snow, like roller balls or pinwheels, it's time to move off slopes steep enough for wet, loose snow to slide down. Moving to places with colder snow or recreating on less steep slopes can help reduce your exposure to wet loose avalanches. 

    More warm weather today should form more wet snow on some slopes. Expect places that get sun to experience the most warming, but some clouds today may allow this warmth to spread to other aspects as well. As the bonds holding the recent snow together melt, avalanches of wet, loose snow will become possible. These avalanches may start small, but they entrain more snow as they move downhill, so long, steep slopes can produce larger wet loose avalanches. These could push a person into a gully, over a cliff, or into some other terrain trap. Some larger wet loose avalanches could even involve enough snow to injure a person without a terrain trap. 

    (2/13/2026)

    Small wet loose avalanches on a sunny east-facing slope.

    Fireplug, Mt. Rose backcountry. 

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1–2

    Triggering a wind slab avalanche should be unlikely in most places today. Still, an unstable wind slab may lurk on an isolated terrain feature in the most heavily wind-loaded areas, especially if weak snow exists below the wind slab. Stay alert and be willing to change plans if you see any signs of unstable wind slabs, like cracking or collapsing, or feel dense snow over softer snow. Even small, isolated pockets of unstable snow can have consequences in complex or extreme terrain, such as gullies, couloirs, and unsupported slopes above cliffs.

Avalanche Discussion

Weak snow (near-surface facets) formed on many NW-N-NE aspects during the dry spell. These weak layers are now buried under the recent snow. Some areas also have a thin rain crust up to about 8800 ft at the base of the recent snow above those facets. The recent snow may not have provided enough load to break these facets, but data and tests indicate that those layers remain weak. Weak layers and weak snowpack structures like this have contributed to large avalanches in the past.

Lower elevations and sun-exposed slopes experienced significant snowmelt over the last 2-3 weeks, exposing areas of dirt, rock, and downed trees.  These hazards and obstacles now lie hidden, barely covered by a few inches of recent snow.  Deep open holes, open creeks, and ponded water are widespread in low-lying areas, especially below 8,000'. 

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