Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

While natural activity is unlikely today, it remains possible to trigger a very large avalanche breaking deep in the snowpack. Recently formed wind slabs may still be reactive to human triggers. Choose travel routes with lower slope angles and without overhead hazard to limit your exposure.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Yesterday's Clear skies revealed several very large avalanches that released during our recent loading event, and field observations continue to report audible collapsing and shooting cracks near and below the treeline. Close to 4” of water was added to the snowpack since the end of January and it will take time to adapt to this new load. In the meantime, avalanches breaking on these deeper weak layers have the potential to be very large and destructive. A smaller wind slab avalanche, or a person's weight, could be all that’s needed to trigger an unsurvivable avalanche.

    Managing persistent slabs is difficult and requires patience. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from flatter terrain below or adjacent to steep slopes. Persistent slabs often propagate widely and beyond terrain features that may limit surface instabilities, such as storm or wind slabs. Shooting cracks and collapses are clear warning signs of the problem. However, feedback is often irregular. The best option is to minimize your exposure to steep terrain and large avalanche paths. Use extra caution in rocky, complex terrain, unsupported slopes with shallow trigger points, convex rollovers, and on slopes with inconsistent snow depth.

    Photo: Steve Mace

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Significant wind transport was observed yesterday.  Winds decreased overnight and are expected to remain at mostly light speeds today. Wind deposits will range in size and sensitivity today. New slabs will be smaller and easier to trigger, while older ones will be larger and more stubborn. Be cautious in areas where terrain features encourage drifting, like the leeward sides of ridgelines, alpine couloirs, mid-slope rolls, and cross-loaded depressions. Hard wind slabs might feel stable, but they can fail unexpectedly, initiate above you, and accelerate quickly. Clues like textured snow surfaces, large fresh drifts, and hollow upside-down feeling snow can alert you to where this problem exists.

    (2/7/2025)

    Intense wind loading across the range.

    Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

The weak layers in the snowpack vary by elevation. Sugary facets and facet-crust combos are buried 1 to 3 feet deep in sheltered areas and deeper where thick wind slabs have formed. Rain crusts are found near and below treeline, with loose facets both above and below. Areas in the high alpine were less affected by rain. However, old snow surfaces were heavily wind-affected, and coverage was more sporadic before our recent storms.  Areas of greatest concern exist from 9000’ to 11,000’ where crusts are thinner or dense snow rests on loose facets. 

There is considerable overlap between the wind slab and persistent slab avalanche problems. Keep in mind that even a relatively small wind slab avalanche will act as a significant trigger and may step down to weaker old snow deeper in the snowpack. Areas of greatest concern are below alpine cliff bands, in sheltered terrain, and on leeward slopes near treeline. Feedback from these persistent weak layers can be inconsistent, meaning you may not see signs of instability until an avalanche is released. Conservative terrain choice is the most effective solution to the problem.

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