Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Unseasonably warm temperatures and clear sunny skies will keep the potential for Wet Loose avalanches top of mind. Monitor surface conditions closely today and retreat from steep slopes before surface snow becomes wet and unconsolidated.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Clear skies, overnight temperatures below freezing, and light winds led to the strongest refreeze we have seen all week. Loose-wet avalanche concerns will increase as the sun comes out and temperatures rise. Expect areas of concern to move around the compass rose throughout the day. East slopes will warm first as the sun comes out this morning, followed by southerly and westerly aspects as the sun moves across the sky. Rollerballs or pinwheels and increasing boot penetration are signs of instability that often foreshadow larger point-release avalanches. Radiators such as cliffbands, rock features, and confined couloirs can trap heat and exacerbate warming effects. Wet Loose avalanches often fail from a single point and entrain heavy snow as they move downhill. The best way to manage this hazard is to get an early start. Ascend slopes, while they remain cold and frozen, monitor for changing conditions and be off of steep slopes before surface snow becomes wet and unconsolidated.

    (2/23/2025) Photo: Samantha Rubin

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3.5

    While targeted snowpack evaluations continue to show the potential for avalanches to propagate long distances, signs of instability such as shooting cracks and collapsing in the snowpack, have become increasingly less common over the last week. Triggering a large slab avalanche is unlikely. It would likely require you to find a shallowly buried trigger point akin to finding the needle in the haystack. However, it is important to remember that while the likelihood has decreased, the size of a potential avalanche has not.  A resulting avalanche will be large and destructive. Be wary of steep and complex terrain, areas with inconsistent snow coverage, and shallow trigger points. Particularly in the southern half of the forecast area and at lower elevations where buried weak layers are closer to the surface (~1 meter or less). Conservative terrain choice remains the best way to limit your exposure.

    Photo: Steve Mace

Avalanche Discussion

Spring-like weather has led to spring-like snowpack concerns, with some caveats.

Last night’s refreeze was the strongest we have seen all week, which will help transition us to a more predictable melt-freeze cycle. Specialized tools such as boot and/or ski crampons and an ice ax may make for more efficient and safe travel, depending on where you wish to go. Snow lines have been creeping up, and coverage in some areas has decreased during our last week of unseasonably warm temperatures. This may make for long or difficult approaches in some regions of the forecast area.

It is also important to consider that while it may feel like spring, the snowpack hasn't yet had time to settle into that rhythm. Triggering a persistent slab avalanche has become unlikely, but it is not completely out of the question. A robust slab rests on top of well-developed facets or facet crust combos in many areas. While no signs of instability have been noted in over a week, targeted snowpack evaluations highlight poor structure and the potential for an avalanche to propagate wide distances. This highlights a low probability/ high consequence problem with a decent amount of uncertainty. Use conservative terrain choices to limit your exposure.

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