Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Today's sun and warm weather will create wet loose snow on many slopes and weaken overhanging snow (cornices) along ridges. Once the snow starts feeling wet, it's best to use slopes that are not steep enough for snow to slide down and stay away from areas with overhanging snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Last night's refreeze had to rely solely on heat from the snowpack radiating out into the night sky since temperatures remained above freezing in many areas. The thin refreeze crusts that did form will quickly melt away in today's sunny, warm weather. Wet loose avalanches will become possible at all elevations and on all aspects. Long steep slopes can produce larger wet snow avalanches, but smaller wet loose avalanches can still have consequences in areas with terrain traps like cliffs or creeks.

    The change from frozen snow to wet snow will happen quickly today. Once the snow starts feeling wet and mushy, it's time to move away from avalanche terrain or move to a place where the snow remains colder, if you can find one. Sinking into boot-top deep wet snow, roller balls, and pinwheels can indicate that enough wet snow exists for larger, wet loose avalanches to occur.

    (4/10/2024)

    This north aspect of The Nipple  avalanched shortly before 11am on April 10th.  Although not big enough to bury a person, it was close (D1.5)

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    The cornices hanging off many ridgelines will continue to weaken during the warm weather. Cornice failures will be possible today, but predicting exactly which cornices will fail when remains uncertain. If someone does trigger a cornice failure, they could end up falling down a slope and getting pummeled by large cornice blocks. In some places, recent NE winds have scoured material away from the cornices; in others, they remain large and overhung. 

    Cornices often fail farther back from the edge than expected and break wider than expected. As a result, they almost always surprise people. If your route takes you along a corniced ridge, keep exposed rocks or trees between you and the cornice edge. Also, be wary of traveling on slopes under cornices. It's best to avoid these slopes, but if you have to travel on them, spend as little time as possible doing so.

    (4/10/2024)

    Most cornices around Polaris Bowl were small, but this one was estimated at 30ft. Under it, remnants of a previous wind slab avalanche were observed 

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

Regions covered