Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects.

Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Despite above freezing air temperatures last night at the mid and upper elevations, a decent overnight snow surface refreeze is expected to have occurred due to radiational cooling under clear skies. Frozen snow surfaces on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects this morning will give way to surface wet snow formation as the day progresses. Snow surface conditions are likely to remain supportable into the afternoon hours with minimal loose wet instability expected.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Tamarack Peak (Mount Rose area) and on Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) indicated stable snowpack conditions. Wet surface snow formed on ESE-SE-S aspects by mid morning at the mid and upper elevations, expanding to nearly all sun exposed areas on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects as the day progressed. Surface wet snow amounts reached 2 to 3 inches during the afternoon hours with no signs of wet snow instability observed or reported. NW-N-NE aspects were noted to remain in a frozen state as a mix of breakable crust and isolated pockets of shallow unconsolidated surface snow.

Regions covered