Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

In response to daytime warming, MODERATE avalanche danger will form today on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Human triggered loose wet avalanches will become possible. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Prior to sunrise this morning, air temperatures at the mid and upper elevations are well above freezing and some 10 to 12 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago. The snow surface refreeze that occurred last night will have been driven entirely by radiational cooling under clear skies. Following sunrise, air temperatures will warm quickly this morning. The window of supportable wet snow conditions is not expected to last nearly as long today as it did yesterday. This is due to a comparatively weaker overnight refreeze and air temperatures at the mid and upper elevations reaching the upper 40s to upper 50s more rapidly today. Human triggered loose wet avalanches will become possible as the day progresses on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Tamarack Peak (Mount Rose Backcountry) revealed that areas of wet snow became widespread on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects all the way to the summit at 9,900' in response to daytime warming. Snow conditions remained supportable well into the afternoon hours due to the presence of either several inches of melt-freeze crust or higher density wet snow remaining below the 2 to 3 inches of soft wet snow on the surface. All observed evidence of wet snow instability remained limited to human triggered minor and inconsequential roller balls.

Snow surface conditions on NW-N-NE aspects in this area were a transitional mix of pockets of shallow unconsolidated snow unaffected by melt-freeze, pockets of wind compacted snow, and pockets of frozen melt-freeze crust.

Regions covered