Central Sierra Nevada

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1

  The surface snow will continue to warm, slowly transitioning from recent storm snow to eventually become well established supportable melt-freeze snow at a later date. During this transition, an upper snowpack structure of surface wet snow on top of yet to transition drier recent storm snow will be prone to human triggered loose wet avalanches. Most instability is expected to take on the form of roller balls and pinwheels. The vast majority of instability is expected to occur on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Isolated instability may occur in sun exposed areas on low to mid elevation NW-N-NE aspects as well.

  Avoid the premature search for "corn snow" while the upper snowpack remains in a transitional state. Use quick hand pits to identify surface wet snow on top of colder recent storm snow that has yet to undergo melt-freeze. Slopes steeper than 35 degrees where this near surface snowpack structure exists are best avoided once a couple inches or more of surface wet snow are present. Human triggering of roller balls and pinwheels approaching or exceeding 1 foot in diameter are indicators that loose wet avalanche activity is possible.

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Unlikely

  Größe

  1

  Increasing NE winds today are expected to create some areas of blowing snow and subsequent wind slab formation near and above treeline on SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects. Slab size is expected to be small, but could be problematic in the most heavily wind loaded areas. Carefully evaluate areas of active wind loading for the size and depth of new wind slab formation before committing to steep terrain.