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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Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Isolated areas of small unstable wind slabs may form today in wind loaded areas near and above treeline on N-NE-E aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Small wind slabs will likely form this afternoon in the most heavily wind loaded areas near and above treeline on N-NE-E aspects. These slabs are expected to be less than 6 inches thick and only extend a few feet down slope. For the most part these new wind slabs will not pose a significant threat to backcountry travelers. The nature of convective snow showers is to provide very short periods of high intensity snowfall and isolated areas of increased snowfall accumulation. Given this snowfall pattern, formation of an isolated wind slab with sufficient size to potentially bury or injure a person is not out of the realm of possibility for this afternoon.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Red Vista (Carson Pass area) and on Tamarack Peak (Mount Rose backcountry) revealed little to no evidence of snowpack instability. On Red Vista, formal snowpit tests and ski cuts in previously wind loaded areas yielded no signs of unstable wind slabs. Formal snowpit tests targeting near crust facet layers just below the recent storm snow yielded no signs of unstable persistent slabs. On Tamarack Peak, formal snowpit tests revealed no signs of unstable wind slabs and produced highly variable and inconsistent results on the near crust facet layer at the base of the recent storm snow.

Other recent observations from around the forecast area over the past several days have all pointed towards a significant stability improvement of the persistent slab problem arising from the near crust facet layer that was rapidly loaded during the last storm cycle. Data indicates that this weak layer has adjusted to the new load and that persistent slab avalanches are becoming highly unlikely.

Regions covered