Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Highlights

Early season conditions update #7

A useable snowpack exists above 8000'. The potential exists for loose wet avalanches at all elevations with ongoing above freezing temperatures and light rain possible to 10,000' or higher on Thursday. Normal Caution is appropriate for travel in and around avalanche terrain throughout the forecast area.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    0

    Above freezing air temperatures are expected both day and night through this week. Light rain is possible up to 10,000' or higher on Thursday.  Surface wet snow is expected on all aspects at all elevations. Some loose wet instabilities may exist ranging from rollers balls to loose wet avalanches.

    Wet surface snow might refreeze overnight despite above freezing air temperatures due to radiational cooling. Any refreeze could allow firm rain crusts to form at all elevations on all aspects throughout the forecast area. This could pose significant travel hazards in the form of difficult traction and long sliding falls.

Avalanche Discussion

-Above 8,000', a usable snowpack ranging from 2 to 3+ feet deep exists throughout the forecast area.  Below 7,200' to 7,800', the snowpack is shallow with a minimal amount of usable snow.  Bare ground exists in most areas below 7,000'.

-Snowpit data is no longer showing evidence of continued instability from the Nov 16 Deep Slab avalanche cycle.

-Rain on snow event Nov 20 deposited a few tenths of an inch of rain on the snowpack up to around 10,500'-11,000'.

Regions covered