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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    A strong overnight refreeze is expected to have occurred last night due to below freezing air temperatures and radiational cooling under partly cloudy skies. While areas of wet surface snow will form again today in response to daytime heating, the snowpack is expected to remain supportable well into the afternoon hours. Any human triggered loose wet snow instabilities such as roller balls or tiny loose wet avalanches are expected to be small and inconsequential, not presenting a significant hazard to backcountry travelers.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Incline Lake Peak (Mount Rose area) indicated that thin high level clouds covering 75% of the sky did little to slow the rate of snow surface melting. Conditions observed were very similar to those observed around the forecast area over the past several days. A strong snow surface refreeze had occurred in this area overnight with mit pits indicating no residual wet snow lingering from previous melt cycles. At noon, 2 to 3 inches of surface wet snow on top of supportable melt-freeze crust was observed at 9,200' on E and SE aspects. All collected data indicated that supportable snow surface conditions were likely to continue on all aspects well into the afternoon hours.

Small patchy areas of transitional snow in the form of near surface facets and near crust facets within the top 6 inches of the snowpack were observed on N aspects above 8,500'. This is also very similar to what has been observed around the rest of the forecast area over the past several days.

Regions covered