Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will remain LOW for all elevations today and avalanche activity will remain unlikely. Other hazards still exist in the backcountry. Continue to use normal caution during backcountry travel. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Cold temperatures and increasing clouds and winds should keep crusts frozen and firm. While avalanche activity will remain unlikely today, other dangers like long sliding falls on the frozen crusts, collisions with some of the numerous exposed obstacles, or both still exist. Continue to plan travel in the backcountry to minimize risks. 

    The new snow expected tonight combined with increased SW winds may start to form small isolated wind slabs near exposed ridgelines. These wind slabs should not grow large enough to pose much of a hazard to backcountry travelers tonight due to the limited amount of new snow accumulation expected. 

Avalanche Discussion

* Snow surfaces remained frozen and firm on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects all day yesterday on Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) and on Tamarack Peak (Mt. Rose backcountry).

* Snow coverage on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects varies significantly by location and elevation. In some areas, little to no continuous snow cover exists on these aspects below 8,200' to 9,000'. In some cases, these aspects are mostly bare ground up to elevations above 10,000'.

* Snowpit data and observations from N aspects on Tamarack Peak (Mt. Rose backcountry) and Becker Peak (Echo Summit area) showed a well-consolidated snowpack with no signs of instability. 

* Some soft, cold, unconsolidated snow still lingers on sheltered untracked N aspects. Snow surface conditions elsewhere on NW-N-NE aspects range from breakable crust to heavily tracked to firm wind scoured. Snow coverage becomes less consistent and more limited on northerly aspects below 7500 ft. in most areas.

Regions covered