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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Other hazards including icy conditions and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles remain. Continue to practice safe travel habits and thoughtful decision making when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Today's sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures should allow some soft, wet snow to form on some of the sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects. However, the east and northeast winds, a strong overnight refreeze, and a snowpack with well established drainage channels should help limit the melting that does occur today and prevent any significant wet snow instabilities from forming. All other aspects should remain mostly frozen today.

    While avalanche activity will remain unlikely today, other hazards including icy conditions that could allow for long uncontrollable falls and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles to hit remain.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's mostly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures limtied melting and softening of the snow surface. Observations on the Fireplug in the Mt. Rose area showed frozen firm surfaces on all aspects through mid day even though some SE-S aspects did receive some sunshine in the morning. On the northerly aspects some remnant facets still existed around the buried rain crusts, but snowpit data indicated that those layers continue to gain strength.

Regions covered