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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Highlights

Increasing temperatures with decreasing winds will make loose wet avalanches possible today at all elevations.  Avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE as daytime warming occurs into the mid-day and afternoon hours.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Loose wet avalanche activity is expected to increase today as daytime warming accelerates into the mid-day and afternoon hours.  A combination of near to above freezing temperatures overnight, warmer forecasted daytime high temperatures, and lighter W winds, will all lead to the snow surface softening and loosing strength throughout the day.  Thick melt freeze crusts on SE-S-SW aspects with clear overnight skies should still provide good supportable conditions throughout the morning hours.  Loose wet instabilities are expected to be mostly small, though transitional surface snow areas that do not have an established melt freeze crust may have more snow available for larger loose wet avalanches.  NW-N-NE aspects are expected to remain firm and variable in most areas with limited softening.

    Monitor the snow surface softening throughout the day.  If the surface snow is becoming wet and punchy, it’s time to move to a different aspect or call it a day.  Small loose wet avalanches could still have consequences with our low snow conditions with plenty of obstacles and hazards to hit. 

Avalanche Discussion

Observations came from Stevens Peak in the Carson Pass area yesterday.  Warm conditions were at the low to mid elevations with moderate NE winds keeping it cold at the upper elevations.  Snow surface softening was limited above 9500', with corn snow below 9200' on SE-S aspects.  Transitional snow existed at higher elevations and on E aspects without an established melt freeze crust.  Snow coverage is decreasing quickly on southerly aspects at all elevations.  No wet snow instabilities were observed.

Regions covered