Central Sierra Nevada

Avalanches should be unlikely today since only a few inches of snow fell in the last 24 hours. Unlikely does not mean impossible. If a person does cause an avalanche today, it would occur in a pocket of wind-blown snow on some isolated slope near a ridge, in a gully, or in an area with an unusual amount of wind-drifted snow.

Normal caution

Since only 1 to 3 inches of new snow fell yesterday, avalanche activity should be unlikely today. A few small, shallow wind slabs may exist near ridges or in isolated gullies where wind-blown snow has piled up. Most of these should not hold enough snow to produce any consequential instability. Isolated areas with terrain features like cliffs or narrow gullies (terrain traps) that could magnify the consequences of a small otherwise inconsequential avalanche may be an exception. Large cornices also still exist above many wind-loaded slopes. Today's sunshine could weaken some of those cornices. It may also cause some roller balls or other small loose wet instabilities around rocks on steep sunny slopes at lower elevations. Again, these should remain small and limited to isolated areas. 

Even though the avalanche danger is LOW today, travel with a plan that provides appropriate safety margins. Focus on terrain and conditions that match the skills and goals of your group. As always continue to move through terrain in ways that minimize exposure to avalanche hazards like only exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones out of avalanche terrain and runout zones.

Recent Observations:

* Variable conditions including crusts, wind-affected surfaces, firm wind-packed surfaces, and punchy snow exist across the region. Some areas of softer snow still linger on the most wind-sheltered north aspects in densely treed areas at elevations above the rain crust. 

* Several cornice collapses and wind slab avalanches were reported earlier this week.