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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago.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

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations. Continue to use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Today's sunny skies and warm temperatures should provide enough warming to create corn snow conditions on sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects. Some minor wet snow instabilities could form on slopes that experience enough warming. If cloud cover does obscure the sun in an area, it may limit the softening that occurs. On the northerly side of the compass, most exposed slopes hold a mix of hard snow surfaces including wind-scoured icy rain crusts and uneven stiff wind textures. Even though the avalanche danger is LOW, the firm surfaces could make travel challenging and allow for other hazards including long sliding falls.

    As the day warms up the snow conditions will change quickly. Maintain awareness of the changing conditions and use this information to find terrain with appropriate conditions for your group. 

Avalanche Discussion

* Observations yesterday on Angora Peak, Jakes Peak, and Rose Knob Peak all revealed corn snow conditions with a few inches of wet snow on top of a supportable melt-freeze layer. In all three locations on S aspects, afternoon cloud cover limited warming and provided a longer window of supportable snow. On more ESE aspects of Rose Knob in more treed areas around 7600 ft, observers found deeper wet snow with less supportable conditions by 11:45 am.

* Observations near Scott Lake (Luther Pass) found variable conditions including wet snow on southerly aspects and firm to breakable crusts on shaded slopes and northerly aspects. Snowpit data from a NE slope in that area did identify the old layer of buried surface hoar.   

Regions covered