Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 10 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all aspects and elevations. LOW danger does not mean "no danger" and small avalanches could still occur in isolated areas or extreme terrain. Practice safe backcountry travel habits like moving one at a time from safe zone to safe zone to reduce your risk while traveling through avalanche terrain. Early season conditions exist with numerous exposed and shallowly buried obstacles in most areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    0

    Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely today, but unlikely does not mean impossible. Some unstable snow could still exist on isolated terrain features especially on leeward aspects where wind slabs may exist. Still, small avalanches can have big consequences especially when the snowpack remains shallow. Even though the avalanche danger remains LOW practicing safe back-country travel habits represents a great idea. Make a travel plan, discuss it with your group, and share it with someone who will not be on your tour. Continue to evaluate the snowpack and terrain and watch out for those isolated terrain features where unstable snow may remain. When moving into or through potential avalanche terrain, only expose 1 member of your group at a time. Identify safe zones out of avalanche terrain and re-group in those areas. Practicing these techniques now will make them habits that will serve you well on days when increased avalanche danger exists.

    In addition to LOW avalanche danger, a LOW-tide snowpack also exists and while LOW avalanche danger means less avalanche hazard, the shallow snowpack means more exposed and shallowly buried obstacles to hit. Collisions with these exposed or barely covered rocks, logs, stumps, trees, and other hard immovable objects can break equipment and people. Enjoy the snow, but be careful so that that enjoyment will last all season long.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations from Andesite Ridge showed significant wind scouring and wind affected snow on exposed near and above treeline terrain as well as in more sheltered below treeline terrain due to the gale force NE and E winds. Despite the strong winds wind transport and wind slab formation remained limited and the wind slabs noted on the leeward aspects remained small and did not extend very far downslope. Across the Lake on Tamarack Peak the NE and E winds remained weaker and only scoured exposed near and above treeline slopes. In sheltered below treeline areas, the snow remained soft and unconsolidated. Snowpit tests in both these areas did not reveal any signs of instability.

Snowpit data on Tamarack Peak still identified a persistent weak layer buried in the snowpack, but tests on this layer indicated triggering it has become unlikley. While it may not represent a current avalanche problem any more it still warrants observations to see if it could re-awaken during a future loading event. This persistent weak layer has been found on N aspects along the northern portion of the Sierra Crest above 8300' and in the Mt. Rose area above 9300'. There have been no avalanches associated with this layer.

The deepest and most usable snowpack within the forecast area exists along the northern portion of the Sierra Crest. Along the Sierra Crest south of Tahoe City, snowpack depths decrease, even at the highest elevations. Recent storms have added to the snowpack in all areas but many rocks and shallowly buried obstacles still exist. The Mount Rose area in the NE portion of the forecast area has decent snow cover, but impact with rocks remains likely at the lower elevations in this area as well.

We greatly appreciate all of the recent avalanche and snowpack observations submitted by local users. This data helps us craft better advisories. Please continue to submit observations through the "submit observations" buttons found throughout this website. Remember any information you have can help. Simple weather and snowpack observations like how deep do you sink in the snow,  have you seen any avalanches or signs of instability, did you see snow blowing at the ridgelines are all helpful. Of course, we will take more detailed observations like snowpit data, videos, or photos as well. 

Regions covered