Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Loose wet avalanches will become possible at all elevations as the day warms up. The avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE at all elevations today. Identify terrain where avalanche problems may exist and use this information to plan a travel route that avoids the problematic terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    More sun and even warmer daytime temperatures today means that loose wet avalanches will become possible as the day warms up. Roller balls, pinwheels, and wet point release avalanches could occur today. Many of these should remain small, but some of them could entrain enough snow to knock a person or machine off balance or push them off course into more consequential terrain. Loose wet avalanche activity could occur on any sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects with slopes 35 degrees or steeper. 

    As the day warms up, pay attention to where small loose wet instabilities occur and where wet snow forms and avoid steep slopes on those aspects.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations on Mt. Tallac and in the Becker/Talking area found soft unconsolidated snow on the northerly aspects and a mix of breakable crusts and warm wet snow on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Data collected in these areas did not reveal any lingering signs of unstable wind slabs or other slab formation. Some small loose wet roller balls did occur near rocks and cliff bands in both areas on SE-S-SW aspects. Some minor loose dry sluffs also occurred on steep NE facing terrain on Tallac.

Very large cornices still exist along many ridgelines. Ski kicks well away from the edge of cornices overhanging test slopes near Becker Peak did cause car-sized pieces of cornices to break off, but these pieces did not trigger any other signs of instability in the slopes below. 

Regions covered