Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Frozen conditions this early this morning will give way to potentially unstable wet snow as daytime warming occurs.  Consider avoiding avalanche terrain if wet snow is more than a few inches deep or the snow surface becomes unsupportable.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    A decent to strong snow surface refreeze is expected to have occurred last night under clear skies with air temperatures in the 30s. Frozen snow surfaces early this morning will melt and transition to weak wet snow as the day progresses. Once surface wet snow is more than a few inches deep or the surface crust melts enough to lose supportability, wet loose snow avalanches are possible.

    Pay attention to the progressive change in conditions during the morning and mid-day hours. Consider avoiding travel in or below avalanche terrain once enough melt has occurred for the snow under your equipment to feel semi-supportable or unsupportable. Plan travel to make lower risk terrain options available once these indications of potentially unstable wet snow are present.

Avalanche Discussion

  • Snowmelt continues on all aspects around the forecast area, especially below 7,000' to 7,500'. Many NW-N-NE-E aspects still have decent snow coverage. Large areas of bare ground or very limited snow cover exist on most SE-S-SW-W aspects.

Regions covered