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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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists for all elevations. Manage risk to minimize the consequences of triggering an unexpected avalanche. Plan for how terrain features may increase the consequences of a small avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Warming and wind are the main factors affecting the snowpack today. Continued gradual warming and above freezing air temperatures will allow for minor loose wet instabilities, mainly in the form of roller balls in sun exposed areas. Ridgetop winds out of the NE will strengthen today with strong gusts, similar in speed to those that occurred on January 22nd. Limited amounts of snow remain available for wind transport at the forecast wind speed. Any new areas of wind slab formation are expected to be small and isolated.

    Identify areas of wet snow surface conditions or where blowing snow is depositing. If any avalanche activity occurs today, it will most likely occur in one of these locations. Avalanches large enough to bury a person are unlikely today. Smaller avalanches that would often be inconsequential may have significant consequences if occurring above cliffs, terrain traps, or in rocky chutes. Accidents in the current conditions are often traced back to terrain exposure, reliance on marginal islands of safety, and/or poor communication.

Avalanche Discussion

* Recent observations from around the forecast area indicate that the old weak layers buried deeply in the snowpack continue to gain strength.

* Snow surface conditions are becoming affected by warming in most areas. The snow surface on shaded, wind protected N aspects remains unconsolidated and has escaped melt at the mid and upper elevations.

* Significant wind erosion of the snow surface has occurred in near treeline and above treeline areas on all aspects. Exposed rain crust and firm ice exist in some areas.

Regions covered