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Out of date — this forecast expired 11 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Small loose wet avalanches remain a possibility in isolated areas on all aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Snow from the last storm cycle remains transitional from recent storm snow to melt-freeze in many areas. As air temperatures warm today, wet surface snow will again form on all but the most heavily shaded northerly aspects. The majority of instability today is expected to take the form of human triggered roller balls and pinwheels rather than loose wet avalanches. Isolated small loose wet avalanches are not outside the realm of possibility today on all aspects on slopes 37 degrees and steeper.

Avalanche Discussion

Snow cover across the forecast area differs dramatically on SE-S-SW aspects vs. NW-N-NE aspects. Snow cover on most SE-S-SW aspects has melted back to pre-storm coverage with large areas of bare ground. This is especially noticeable below 7,500' and in some cases to much higher elevations. Snow on E aspects above 7,000' remains transitional with marginally supportable melt-freeze crust over recent storm snow over rain crust. As the E aspect surface crust melts during the day, conditions generally make a rapid switch from marginally supportable to wet snow over recent storm snow. On NW-N-NE aspects, recent storm snow is metamorphosing into near surface facets in most areas. Thin surface melt-freeze crust has formed on all but the most heavily shaded N aspects. In these heavily shaded areas, pockets of unconsolidated near surface facets and recent storm snow linger, unaffected by melt-freeze. Recent observations from around the forecast area have shown no evidence of snowpack instability over the past few days. Glossary of terms

Regions covered