Eastside Region

Generally stable conditions persist across the forecast area, and avalanches are unlikely at all elevations. Variable surfaces and shallow early-season conditions remain the greatest hazards in the backcountry.  Monitor for unstable snow in isolated areas and be mindful of shallowly buried obstacles like rocks, fallen trees, and open water.

Dry and clear conditions persist today, keeping backcountry travelers focused on a generally shallow snowpack and a variety of challenging surface conditions. Snow depths vary greatly across the forecast area. The deepest and most consistent snowpack is in the Mammoth area, with over a meter of snow in favored locations. Generally, thinner and more sporadic coverage can be found as you move north toward Virginia Lakes or south toward Bishop Creek. Our recent pattern of warm sunny days has also left a variety of surface crusts on all aspects. Surfaces range from thin breakable crusts and weak surface facets on more shaded aspects to more robust melt-freeze crusts on more solar aspects. No matter where you decide to travel, be ready to contend with shallowly buried rocks, fallen trees, and open creeks, and be ready for a variety of surface conditions.

A change in the weather pattern is expected this week as a series of winter storms impact California.  Increasing winds and small amounts of precipitation are possible as early as Thursday, with a more impactful storm expected as we move into the weekend. If you find yourself traveling in the backcountry in the next few days, it is a good idea to pay attention to the surface conditions you encounter. While avalanche conditions have become generally stable over the past weeks of high pressure, as we see more unstable weather later in the week, this is likely to change as old, weak surfaces are buried by new snow.