Central Sierra Nevada

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Likely

  Tamaño

  1.5–2.5

  Gale force SW winds came to an end last night and will switch to mostly light NE for today. The SW winds from the past several days drifted recent snowfall into cohesive wind slabs. In some places, the wind slabs have been difficult to trigger while in other places easy to trigger. This has even been observed on adjacent slopes. Wind slabs for today are most widespread above treeline and near treeline across NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Wind slabs exist to a lesser extent below treeline due to the strength of the recent SW winds.

  Rapid warming on sun exposed wind slabs may contribute to instability today. Identify the areas where wind slabs exist and consider avoiding them. Use clues such as cornice features and wind pillows near ridgetops and gully edges as well as snow surface texture to determine the slopes where concerning areas of wind drifted snow exists.

   

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–2

  It's now the middle of March and as the sun comes out today substantial amounts of incoming solar radiation will occur. This is expected to lead to some wet loose avalanches occurring on sun exposed avalanche terrain. As daytime warming progresses sun exposed slopes are expected to become increasingly unstable.

  Becoming caught in even a small wet loose avalanche can have substantial consequences. Any place where wet loose avalanches have a long open slope to run on will allow for increased avalanche size to occur as more snow is entrained. Anticipate the expected change in stability today on sun exposed slopes as daytime warming progresses and plan travel with the specific intent to manage all of today's avalanche concerns.