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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists today for all elevations. A wind slab avalanche problem lingers near and above treeline. Human triggered avalanches are not impossible today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Wind slabs remain a problem near and above treeline on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Wind slabs are expected to be more difficult to trigger today than yesterday. Yesterday's new wind slabs were deposited on top of older wind slabs. In some cases, weak faceted snow exists below a stack of wind slabs. Surface crust formation from yesterdays rain on snow event will have added strength to the upper snowpack in some areas. Any avalanches that occur today are expected to be small (D1), with the isolated possibility of an avalanche large enough to bury a person (D2).

    Evidence of instability is expected to be minimal today. Don't allow this to lull your group into complacency or sloppy travel techniques in avalanche terrain. Stack the odds in your favor against the event that the unlikely avalanche is triggered by your party.

Avalanche Discussion

* Easy to trigger wind slab avalanches up to 6 inches deep were observed yesterday on test slopes near the summit of Powderhouse Peak (Luther Pass area).

* Newly formed but unreactive wind slabs up to 6 inches deep were observed yesterday on Andesite Peak (Donner Summit area).

* Snow levels rose to around 8,700' along the Sierra Crest yesterday with very light rain falling on new snow. A crusted snow surface is expected to have formed last night in many areas.

* The bottom layers of the snowpack remain well bonded, lacking a problematic weak layer.

Regions covered