Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Issued Mar 20, 2021valid to Mar 21, 2021Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

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Avalanche danger

Sun

Alpine

3 · Considerable

Treeline

3 · Considerable

Below

2 · Moderate

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Up to 1.5ft of new snow in the last 36 hours and strong SW winds have built fresh dangerous WIND SLABS leading to CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger near and above treeline, and MODERATE danger below. Human triggered avalanches are likely and naturals are possible that could easily be large enough to bury you on leeward NW-NE-SE-S facing terrain. Be wary of fresh STORM SLABS in steep sheltered areas. Clearing skies and sunshine later in the day could make LOOSE-WET slides a concern as well. Avalanche danger will be lower for areas that received considerably less snow.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
1–2
Snowfall amounts have varied greatly across the forecast area, with Mammoth and June areas again looking like they received the bulk of the new snow with upwards of 1.5ft of very dense (>2” water content) snow. Typical strong SW winds, shifting more out of the W today, have built and will continue to build fresh sensitive wind slabs. Watch out for and avoid slopes >35° with deeper denser deposits of fresh snow, such as the leeward side of ridgelines, cross loaded gullies, and mid-slope convexities. Use clues such as cornice formation, blowing snow, shooting cracks, and surface snow appearance to help figure out which NW-NE-SE-S facing terrain is suspect. Continued wind loading today will keep slabs sensitive, and could result in a natural release above you.
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1–2
In areas sheltered from wind, a human triggered storm slab avalanche could be possible. Watch for shooting cracks, and be wary of steep slope convexities where it is most likely that a storm slab could be triggered. Be especially careful above gully features, where even a small slope failing could end in a burial. This storm has come in very right-side-up, meaning heavy dense snow fell at the beginning, and became lighter at the end, which is much more stable than the opposite, none-the-less do your own localized assessments. Light surface snow could make limited shallow loose surface sloughing possible in steep terrain.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
As the sunshine comes out today, fresh snow on sunny aspects could become moistened and loose wet point releases are possible, particularly originating near rock bands. Watch for signs such as rollerballs and wet snow, and beware of what could come down ontop of you from above.