Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Once daytime warming melts through the overnight refreeze, sluffs of wet loose snow may become possible on steep sunny slopes. The avalanche danger will be LOW this morning while the snow remains frozen and increase to MODERATE as soon as enough wet snow forms.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Clear skies and near-freezing temperatures last night should have allowed some of yesterday's wet snow to refreeze. Today's sun and warm weather will work to melt the refrozen crust. Once it melts, deep, wet, and unsupportable snow will exist. People recreating on steep slopes could cause this wet loose snow to start sliding downhill. These sluffs of wet loose snow would start small. They would grow larger as they gather more snow while moving down a slope. Some wet loose avalanches could entrain enough snow to pose a threat to backcountry travelers especially on long steep slopes or in areas with terrain traps where small avalanches can have bigger consequences

    Snow conditions change quickly on these spring days. Once the snow becomes deep and wet, it's time to change aspects or move to lower-angle terrain to minimize exposure to potential wet loose avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

* Spring melt-freeze conditions are well established on most E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations. Melt-freeze crusts 3-5 inches thick and firm surfaces have been reported in the mornings. Observers have seen these crusts melt around mid-morning to mid-day leaving areas of deep wet slushy snow on these aspects for the afternoon.

* NW-N-NE aspects still remain in between winter-like snow and spring melt-freeze conditions with a surface crust over colder dryer snow in some places, especially at higher elevations.

Regions covered