Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Expect some wet snow avalanches today on steep slopes that receive direct sun. Rollerballs coming from rocky areas mean it’s time to move to colder, shadier aspects and limit your exposure to overhead hazards. Use caution when entering steep terrain at higher elevations where a slab avalanche breaking in wind-stiffened surface snow is not impossible.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    As clouds clear and temperatures rise today, the powerful April sun will thaw the cold snow surface. Easterly aspects will warm first as the sun comes out this morning, followed by southerly and westerly aspects as the sun moves across the sky. Rocky areas, confined chutes, steep vegetated slopes, and slopes with shallow snow cover can exacerbate the effects of warming. The best way to manage Wet Loose avalanches is to travel early when the snow surface is colder. Time your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the heat of the day. Move to colder, shadier aspects before the snow surface transitions from dry to moist. Rollerballs and pinwheels are the first, most obvious warning signs of Wet Loose avalanches.

    (4/3/2025)

    Small Wet Loose avalanche - 9800' East aspect, 10:30 am

    Photo: Steve Mace

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds have shifted to the northeast and should be mostly light except at the highest elevations. Small fresh drifts could form on atypical aspects above treeline where you see snow blowing off north-facing terrain. On northerly and easterly slopes that were wind loaded during the most recent storm, lingering wind slabs have been gaining strength. Potential problem areas where you could still trigger an avalanche include the leeward sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded chutes. Expect potential avalanches to be larger in the northern half of the forecast area and as you move up in elevation. Shooting cracks in stiff, textured surface snow indicates that you’ve found the problem. You can stick to lower-angled or wind-sheltered slopes to limit your exposure.  

    (4/3/2025)

    Natural avalanche - suspected windslab that likely ran during our recent storm event. 

    11,200' NE aspect - June area

    Photo: Steve Mace

Avalanche Discussion

This is a transitional period before the region gets hit by the full brunt of the coming warming trend. The distribution and extent of wet snow avalanches will be affected by cloud cover and cold winds. If skies clear and the sun comes out in full force, you can expect Wet Loose activity to be larger and more widespread. Wet Loose activity could be more limited and confined to solar aspects at lower elevations if it's cloudier than expected. You’ll want to track how long the mountains in your area are baking in the sun or whether the surface is staying cold.

As high pressure builds, winds decrease, and clouds clear this weekend, you can expect more widespread wet snow instability. 

Regions covered