Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Wind drifts that formed during yesterday’s storm may still be sensitive to your weight. They’ll be biggest in the northern parts of the forecast area downwind of ridgelines and in gullies. Assess for shooting cracks and hollow-sounding snow before committing to steep, wind-loaded terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    While it was windy everywhere yesterday, the most precipitation fell in the northern parts of the forecast area near the Sierra Crest. Wind slabs that formed during the storm will be small except in the most favored areas. Sheltered features like alpine couloirs, mid-slope gullies, and the downwind sides of ridgelines and trees will be where you could find drifts that still crack under your weight. Watch for smooth, rounded drifts and feel for dense, hollow-sounding snow. You could stick to lower-angled slopes and sheltered trees to reduce your chances of triggering an avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

A storm yesterday brought several inches of new snow and gale-force winds. The northern reaches of the forecast area picked up the most precipitation, with the Ellery Lake weather station near Tioga Pass reporting 7 inches of new snow. Further south and east, snow totals diminished. Sesame Snow Study Plot shows about 4 inches of snow, and most stations south of Mammoth show 2 inches of warm, wet cement. Temperatures indicate that the new snow fell right-side-up. It accumulated on old wind-hardened surfaces, melt-freeze crusts, or bare ground.

Observations from yesterday match the storm’s impacts: forecasters in Virginia Lakes saw intense drifting but only isolated cracking in new wind slabs on leeward terrain features. Observations from the Mammoth Area, which received less snow, don’t mention any instability.

In wind-exposed places that received the most snow, fresh slabs may take a little time to heal. Where slabs did not form, loose snow rests atop hard crusts.

As the sun returns and temperatures climb today, small fans of wet snow may sluff down very steep slopes near rocky outcrops. Slushy sluffs coming down from above are expected to be small and not widespread. It's still worth noting unconsolidated new snow getting wet enough for rollerballs to tumble downslope. 

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