Central Sierra Nevada

Cool, windy weather will keep the snow mostly frozen. Little to no soft snow will keep blowing snow from piling up. Avalanches will remain unlikely today. Make travel plans that match your group's skills and goals to the terrain and conditions.

Normal caution

Data and observations from around the region show a well-consolidated snowpack with variable surface conditions. Cold NE-E winds and daytime highs in the 30s should keep the snow surfaces mostly frozen today. Some lower-elevation, wind-sheltered SE-S-SW aspects might get enough direct sun for a thin layer of wet snow to form on the surface. Even though the winds will get strong enough to blow snow, little to no soft snow remains available for transport. The combination of cooler weather and limited blowing snow will keep avalanche activity unlikely today. 

Despite LOW avalanche danger today, making a travel plan with appropriate safety margins remains a good idea. Talk with your partners to understand your group's skills and goals then create a travel plan targeting terrain that matches those skills and goals. As always, move in ways that minimize exposure to avalanche hazards like traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones out of avalanche terrain and runout zones.

Recent Observations:

* Variable snow surface conditions exist across the forecast area including firm ice, unconsolidated snow on top of supportable crusts, wind-packed surfaces, wind-scoured surfaces, breakable crusts, and spring-like melt/freeze snow.

* Large cornices exist along many ridgelines. Some of these have deep fissures behind them where they have pulled away from the ridge.