Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Lingering wind slabs will keep the avalanche danger at MODERATE in near and above treeline terrain today. As the next winter storm starts to impact the region tonight, expect the avalanche danger to rise quickly. In addition to the avalanche concerns, the thin snowpack presents hazards in the form of numerous exposed and barely covered obstacles. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Some instability could linger in near and above treeline terrain where slabs of wind drifted snow exist. Triggering an avalanche involving one of these wind slabs remains possible on wind-loaded aspects. Most of these avalanches would remain small (D1) but some could involve enough snow to bury or injure a person (D2). Regardless of the size, any avalanche could have consequences since collisions with barely covered or exposed rocks, stumps, and other obstacles would be inevitable.

    Use clues like drifted snow, cornices above slopes, blowing snow, and other wind created surface textures to help identify where unstable wind slabs may still linger. While the snowpack may be the "best it has been in months" as one observer put it, it is still shallow and many equipment and body wrecking obstacles exist. "Going big" right now isn't worth the rest of the season on the couch. Lower angle slopes may provide more supportable coverage and easier speed management to help mitigate some of the early season hazards and any lingering avalanche concerns. 

Avalanche Discussion

* A 1 to 2.5 ft. deep snowpack exists over most of the forecast area with a high degree of variability in coverage. 

* Some wind slab avalanches have been reported along the Sierra Crest and the Mt. Rose area in the last few days. People have also reported some human-triggered shooting cracks in wind-loaded areas. 

* Backcountry travelers in the Mt. Rose area continue to report localized whumpfing in sheltered areas. A group of skiers triggered a small pocket of unstable snow near some rocks on Prolateriate, but it was not large enough to cause problems.

Regions covered