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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Expect generally stable snow again today since cool winds and some afternoon cloud cover should limit warming. Some small wet snow instabilities are not impossible on isolated terrain features in areas where cloud cover does not block the sun in the north or where rain might fall on the snowpack in the south. LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Sunny skies this morning will start to soften and melt the surface snow as the day warms up. However, cool winds out of the E and NE and some cloud cover this afternoon should interrupt this daytime warming. These cooling factors should limit the amount of wet surface snow formation especially south of HWY 50 where more cloud cover should develop. While some small roller balls or pinwheels may occur on lower elevation steep sunny slopes protected from the winds, significant loose wet avalanche activity should remain unlikely today. A small sluff of loose wet snow is also not impossible on an isolated lower elevation terrain feature if an area receives rain this afternoon or if it gets full sun all day long.

    Watch for changing snow conditions as the day warms up and travel using normal caution in the backcountry. Plans that focus on getting done before the snow has a chance to warm up too much or searching for cold soft snow on sheltered north aspects can lead to finding good quality snow and will limit potential exposure to an isolated and unlikely but not impossible loose wet avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

* Yesterday observers reported ENE winds transporting minor amounts of snow near ridgelines at Carson Pass and in the Mt. Rose backcountry. No signs of wind slabs instabilities were reported.

* Observations from Tamarack Peak revealed variable snow surfaces including firm scoured surfaces, soft cold snow, breakable crusts, and wet sticky snow (see this observation for details).

* ENE winds limited snow surface softening on both the Tamarack Peak and Elephants Back yesterday. Observers did not report any loose wet instabilities. 

Regions covered