Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago.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

Highlights

The avalanche danger should remain LOW for all aspects and elevations today. Continue to practice safe travel habits and thoughtful decision making when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Avalanche activity will remain unlikely today. Data and observations indicate that the recent snow has consolidated and bonded to the old snow surfaces in most areas. Some small isolated wet snow instabilities may occur today as the day warms up. These should remain small and limited due to a decent overnight refreeze, a snowpack with well established drainage, today's strong winds, some cloud cover, and the weak winter sun all working to prevent larger more widespread wet snow instabilities from forming.

    While avalanche activity will remain unlikely today, the thin coverage in many areas and early season conditions present other hazards including lots of exposed obstacles to hit.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Castle Peak, a thin rain crust existed on most northerly aspects. Underneath this crust the most recent 2-3 inches of snow remained wet from the previous day's rain event. Below this wet snow, the old crusts remained frozen, but the layer of softer snow below those crusts had become moist and completely rounded. It readily clumped together when squeezed and bonding between the now rounded snow grains was visible upon magnification.

On sun-exposed S-SW aspects, numerous rocks and areas of bare ground have melted out as snow coverage has become sparse. In areas where snow cover still remained on these aspects, 2-3 inches of soft corn snow formed above a supportable base by noon.

Regions covered