Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

It remains possible to trigger a very large avalanche breaking on buried weak layers in old snow. Choose travel routes with lower slope angles and without overhead hazard to limit your exposure.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Persistent slab problems are difficult to manage and challenge our patience. Shooting cracks and collapses are clear warning signs of the problem. However, feedback is often irregular or non-existent. This means that triggering a large avalanche may be the first sign that a slope is unstable.  Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from flatter terrain below or adjacent to steep slopes. Persistent slabs often propagate widely and beyond terrain features that may limit surface instabilities, such as storm or wind slabs. The best option is to minimize your exposure to steep terrain and large avalanche paths. Use extra caution in rocky, complex terrain, unsupported slopes with shallow trigger points and convex rollovers, and slopes with inconsistent snow depth. When in doubt, give yourself a wide safety margin, be wary of hazard that may reside above you, and use terrain choice to limit your exposure.

    (2/9/2025) Large widespread avalanche in the left couloir of the cirque that ran across the base of the adjacent cliff band. Photo: Robert Dorrigan

Avalanche Discussion

As we move into a more active weather pattern, it will be important to watch for changing conditions. Increasing winds today could lead to some blowing snow in exposed areas near and above treeline. While it is unlikely that this will lead to significant wind slab formation, it is not impossible. Avalanches breaking on buried weak layers in the old snow remain top of mind.

Storm snow has consolidated into a supportable and cohesive slab over weak layers and crusts. Slab thickness will vary by elevation and from one end of the range to the other.  The structure of concerning weak layers in the snowpack is equally variable depending on the elevation you are traveling in. Layers of sugary facets and facet-crust combos are buried 1 to 3 feet deep in sheltered areas and deeper in leeward terrain near and above treeline. Rain crusts exist at the interface near and below treeline. Field observations have noted loose facets both below and above the rain crust. High alpine terrain was largely spared the impacts of rain. However, old snow surfaces were heavily wind-affected, and coverage was more sporadic prior to our recent storms.  Areas of greatest concern exist from 9000’ to 11,000’ where crusts are thinner or where a new slab of dense snow rests on older loose facets.

Signs of instability, such as shooting cracks or collapsing in the snowpack, are more reliable in areas where the overlying slab is thinner. In areas where the overlying slab is thicker and more consolidated, a large and destructive avalanche may be the first sign that a slope is unstable. Keep in mind that previous tracks on a slope do not indicate that the slope is stable.  Conservative terrain choice is the best way to limit your exposure to this problem.

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