Central Sierra Nevada

Most avalanches should remain unlikely today due to cloud cover, cooler weather, and limited blowing snow. Unlikely does not mean impossible. You might still find some isolated unstable snow in areas where wind-blown snow has piled up in gullies or near ridges and on slopes that get sun today.

Normal caution

Cold temperatures overnight should have caused the wet snow that formed yesterday to refreeze. This refrozen crust should help prevent today's moderate SW winds from blowing snow and building new wind slabs. Areas of wind-loaded snow still exist near ridges and in gullies, but data and observations yesterday indicate that the wind slabs that formed during Monday's storm have become more difficult to trigger.

Cool temperatures, increased winds, and partly cloudy skies should also limit any warming that might occur today. This limited warming should keep most areas cool and frozen. While a thin layer of wet snow may form on some sunny slopes it should remain shallow and limited in distribution.

Avalanche activity should remain unlikely today, but unlikely does not mean impossible. An isolated unstable wind slab may still linger in a steep couloir/gully or in a heavily wind-loaded spot near a ridge. If we get fewer clouds than forecast, the strong sun could create deeper wet snow or weaken the snow in wind-loaded areas. Pay attention to the snow conditions as you travel. If you see any signs of instability like cracks in the snow, rollerballs, pinwheels, etc, consider moving to a different area or into less steep terrain.

Recent Observations

• Observations near Carson Pass (Blue Lakes area and around Round Top) and Donner Summit found good bonding between wind slabs and the old snow surfaces. Observers did not find any lingering signs of wind-slab instability.
• Heavy wet snow started to form on sunny slopes by midday yesterday. Ski cuts on a SE-facing test slope near Donner Pass caused wet loose snow to sluff off of the old crusts below the new snow. 
• Many NW-N-NE-E aspects still had decent snow coverage prior to Monday's storm. Large areas of bare ground or very limited snow cover existed on most SE-S-SW-W aspects.
• Monday's new snow barely covered a variety of obstacles and hazards including exposed rocks, dirt, bushes, down trees, branches, open water, firm crusts, and running creeks.