Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Near and above treeline pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may exist on slopes 35 degrees and steeper on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects due to newly formed wind slabs. In wind protected areas below treeline and in wind scoured areas near and above treeline, avalanche danger remains LOW.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Strong southwest winds and 3-6 inches of new snow last night with up to 3 more inches of snow possible this morning means that some wind slabs will have formed on the leeward NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Most of these wind slabs should remain relatively small due to the small amounts of new snow that fell. In heavily wind loaded areas that received the most snow the wind slabs could reach 1-2 ft in depth. These pockets of larger wind slabs will likely exist on some of the near and above treeline wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects and the cross-loaded NW and SE aspects. Human triggering of these new wind slabs will be possible today. 

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations near Lincoln Ridge on Yuba Pass and on Becker Peak near Echo Summit showed a snowpack that consisted of wet melt-freeze snow and old crusts with thick rain crusts on top of everything up to at least 8000 ft. Observations from 2/14 indicated that the rain crust likely exists as high as 9800 ft. Yesterday the thick crust on the surface had refrozen enough on Becker Peak to sometimes support a skier and sometimes it would break under the weight of a skier. A person on foot would consistently break through the crust and sink deep into wet snow. On Yuba Pass the rain crust would support snowmobiles and in some places it would support a person on foot. In other places a person on foot would sink deep into wet snow. In both of these areas snowpit tests and general observations indicated that the snowpack continues to consolidate and refreeze, and did not reveal any signs of instability. 

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