Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Look out for unstable pockets of wind-drifted snow near and above the treeline. Carefully evaluate surface snow, especially around features that block or redirect winds before committing to steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Over the past 24 hours, pockets of recently drifted wind slabs were reported at upper elevations along with signs of instability such as cracking and strong snow layers over weaker snow. Expect slabs to continue building in leeward terrain features today.  Evaluate terrain that encourages drifting, such as steep slopes below ridgelines, and the entrances to alpine couloirs. Take note if you see blowing snow, rippled surfaces, rounded drifts, and hollow, upside-down feeling snow. Be careful about assuming observations that indicate stability in one area represent another. Assessing each slope can help keep you from being caught by surprise. Remember that even a small avalanche can have large consequences in severe terrain.

    (2/10/2024)

    A small human-triggered wind slab avalanche. 

    Photo: Everett Phillips

Avalanche Discussion

Recent avalanche activity: No new slab avalanches were reported in the past 4 days.

Snowpack Summary: Extreme winds from March 2nd to March 5th battered the upper snowpack leaving impenetrable wind crusts and large sastrugi. In exposed areas, the wind eroded the snowpack completely. This resulted in a very hard upper snowpack on all aspects. Since the wind storm, shifting winds and light snow showers have refreshed some snow surfaces. There are a variety of wind-deposited layers between knife and fist hardness in the top foot of the snowpack near and above the treeline. Several cycles of warm daytime temperatures followed by cold clear nights have caused enough faceting in the surface snow to ease riding conditions. However, re-faceted snow may provide a weak interface for thin wind slabs formed by this weekend's southwest winds.

Variations in conditions between the northern and southern portions of the forecast area will increase between tonight and Tuesday as snow showers bring new snow to drainages in the Mammoth Lakes area and drainages to the north.

Regions covered