Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 11 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

MODERATE avalanche danger continues above treeline on all aspects and near treeline on NW-N-NE-E-SE-S aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas expect LOW avalanche danger. Wind slabs remain an ongoing problem with two small human triggered wind slab avalanches reported yesterday.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Visible blowing snow and significant amounts of wind loading were observed yesterday during the morning hours in the Mount Rose area and all day long along the Sierra Crest. Two human triggered wind slab avalanches were reported yesterday in near treeline terrain on E-SE-S aspects (more info below). In some areas winds were locally out of the S, creating additional wind loading on NW-N-NE aspects. Human triggering of small to medium size wind slabs will remain possible today in recently wind loaded areas. Use visual clues such as blowing snow, cornice formations, wind pillows, and sastrugi patterns on the snow surface to determine to the location of recently formed wind slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Silver Peak (Pole Creek area), significant amounts of blowing snow and active wind loading were observed on northerly aspects. In nearby Deep Creek, skier triggered shooting cracks up to 30 feet long were reported in N aspect near treeline terrain. Small skier triggered wind slab avalanches were reported from Ralston Peak (Desolation Wilderness area) and from Incline Lake Peak (Mount Rose area). On Ralston Peak the avalanche was reported on a SSE aspect near treeline at about 8,000'. On Incline Lake Peak the avalanche was reported on a wind loaded near treeline E aspect.

Snowpit data collected over the past several days indicates that deep persistent slab avalanches have become very unlikely.

Regions covered