Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

MODERATEAvalanche Danger exists at Middle and Lower elevations on SE-S-SW aspects for Wet Loose avalanche concerns.  Sunny skies, warm temperatures and light winds will drive warming of the sunny aspects especially in rocky and confined terrain where heating effects will be amplified. Small isolated wind slabs in the upper elevations on all aspects also warrant consideration today.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify features of concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Moderate warming of surface conditions on solar aspects was observed yesterday. With today’s significant increase in temperatures (38-44F at the 8-10000ft level), bright sunny conditions, and light winds, anticipate loosening of snow particularly on SE-S-SW aspects at the mid to lower elevations. Specific locations such as areas with significant rock outcroppings or cliff bands that aid in absorbing heat and energy and therefore loosening transitional snow deposits are of most concern.  A good overnight freeze should keep things in check during the first half of the day, but timing will be key with 12-3pm being the golden hours for conditions to be at their hottest.  Check the supportability of snow you’re traveling on, by taking your skis off and checking boot penetration. If you’re sinking beyond your boot top or further, it’s probably wise to navigate to cooler aspects or get off the slope.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Continue to be vigilant for isolated small wind slabs in the upper elevations on all aspects.  Snow from Saturday’s meager storm and rotating wind direction from south to north and then east has formed shallow wind slabs in a variety of locations up high in terrain conducive to capturing wind transported snow. Observations from this weekend on the Mammoth crest reported small reactive wind slabs resting on deposits of graupel (spherical, ball-bearing like snow forms). Pay particular attention  if traveling in tight and constricted terrain (couloirs, chutes) where you are exposed from above by warming solar aspects that may shed fresh deposits of wind transported snow from recent northerly and easterly winds up high.

Avalanche Discussion

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RECENT OBSERVATIONS:

2/21 – Mammoth Area – Lakes Basin –Snow conditions

2/21 – June Lk Area –Chicken Wing –snow conditions

2/21 – Mammoth Area – Solar aspects warming up in the afternoon

2/21 – Mammoth Area – Punta Bardini – Tele bowls - snow conditions

2/20 –Mammoth Crest – Small isolated wind slabs

2/20 – June Lake area –Hemlock trees –variable conditions

*Scroll up and click on “Observations” tab to see listing of past 20 observations, or click on the “Resources” menu --> “ESAC Observations” to see listing of all observations

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