Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

This morning the avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. As the day warms up loose wet snow instabilities will become possible and pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form on the E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. The southerly aspects that receive the most sunshine will be the most suspect.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Some loose wet snow instabilities may become possible by this afternoon on the sun exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Since the snowpack experienced another solid refreeze last night and it has been through several melt freeze cycles, the majority of any wet snow instabilities that do occur today should remain small and limited in distribution. Small roller balls, small pinwheels, and small loose wet snow slides may occur today, but they should not entrain very much snow. On the most sun-exposed slopes a few isolated wet snow instabilities could move enough snow to cause problems for backcountry travelers.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Red Lake Peak, a mix of scoured surfaces and isolated small wind slabs existed on exposed near and above treeline N-NE-E aspects. Tests and observations did not reveal any signs of instabilities associated with the lingering small wind slabs unless they existed on an unsupported test slope. Below treeline on the N aspects 1 to 3 inches of soft snow remained above the frozen rain crust in areas sheltered from the sun and wind.

On the sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects some melting and softening did occur creating a layer of soft melt-freeze snow that measured 1 inch in depth at 9400 ft at 12:30 pm and about 2 inches in depth at 8000 ft. at 1 pm. This softer surface snow rested on top of a thick and supportable layer of frozen melt-freeze snow and rain crusts. The E aspects remained frozen above 8500 ft. in this area yesterday. No signs of wet snow instabilities existed as of 1 pm.

Regions covered