Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Near and above treeline pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger still exist on wind loaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects due to lingering wind slabs. In wind protected areas below treeline and in wind scoured areas near and above treeline, avalanche danger remains LOW.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Most of the wind slabs that still exist on on the leeward NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects remain relatively small and difficult to trigger. However, some wind slabs 1-2 ft in depth still linger in the most heavily wind loaded areas that received the most snow on Saturday night. Complex and/or extreme terrain including "cliffy" areas, unsupported slopes, couliors, etc represent the most likely places to find these pockets of larger more fragile wind slabs where human triggered wind slab avalanches will remain possible today.

Avalanche Discussion

Strong winds continued to move snow from the windward aspects to the leeward aspects near the ridgelines in the Mt. Rose and Carson Pass areas yesterday. Wind slabs up to 16 inches deep existed on leeward aspects in both of those areas. On Red Lake Peak observations and snowpit data collected near the avalanche that occurred on 2/16 showed that the wind slabs in that steep and complex wind loaded terrain remain fragile and susceptible to human triggering. On Incline Lake Peak and on Tamarack Peak data indicated that the wind slabs remain more difficult to trigger. On Tamarack Peak ski cuts on unsupported/undercut test slopes that held those wind slabs did cause them to fail. On similar supported/non-undercut test slopes ski cuts did not cause any cracks or failures.

Regions covered