Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Gale force winds during yesterday's storm have created slabs of wind blown snow.  These slabs could remain reactive today in gully features, along ridges, and in open areas.  Use caution when traveling around these areas of concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Gale force Southwest winds during and after yesterday's storm have created wind slabs in near and above treeline areas.  These dense wind slabs will have formed on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects.  Areas that received the higher end storm totals will have the larger concern for wind slab development and size.  Southwest winds have decreased overnight with winds becoming light today.  Many wind exposed areas will be scoured back down to previous firm rain crust.  Wind slabs that formed yesterday could remain reactive today along with newly fragile built out cornices.

    Look for recent cornice formation, wind pillows, and snow surface scouring as to where these wind slabs have formed.  Identify and move around these areas of concern.

    (12/27/2024)

    Wind slab avalanche, triggered unintentionally by a snowmobile near Lost Lakes, CA.  This occurred a day after one of our last storms.

Avalanche Discussion

Over the past several days, incremental loading of deeper, faceted weak layers that linger above 8,000' to 8,500' in the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area has occurred. Thus far, these lingering weak layers appear to have handled the increasing load with no reported signs of instability. These layers include the Dec 12 pwl and basal facets near the ground that both exist where a shallower and weaker snowpack has continued to persist. 

Regions covered