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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely on a regional scale. LOW avalanche danger does not mean no avalanche danger. Some areas of unstable wind drifted snow or cornices may still linger on isolated terrain features especially in complex or extreme terrain. Focus on using safe travel techniques, maintaining awareness, and having open discussions with your partners to avoid getting complacent.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    In most of the forecast area, triggering an avalanche has become unlikely. Unlikely does not mean impossible. An unstable slab of wind drifted snow or a fragile cornice may still linger on an isolated terrain feature. These small and isolated instabilities could still have consequences especially in the more complex and challenging terrain that many people chose on LOW danger days. That complex terrain (cliffy areas, couloirs, etc) also has more variability and will be more likely to hold one of those isolated areas of instability.

    While more terrain may open up on LOW danger days, continue to minimize exposure by traveling with normal caution. Only expose one person at a time to a slope, watch your partners as they move through avalanche terrain, and regroup in safe areas out of avalanche paths. Continue to evaluate slopes for stability and snow conditions before committing to them. Pausing to discuss whether or not it makes sense to commit to the slope in front of you can help fight the complacency that often accompanies a LOW danger day. 

Avalanche Discussion

* Yesterday observations from Lincoln Ridge found small but fragile cornices along some ridgelines with small and unreactive wind slabs on wind loaded slopes. 1-1.5 inches of new snow accumulated there during the morning. 

* Farther south on Waterhouse Peak only a trace of new snow existed and no signs of instability were observed. 

* No avalanches have been reported for over a week. Generally, stable snowpack conditions have been reported throughout the forecast area.

* Variable snow surface conditions ranging from scoured icy crusts, sastrugi, and other wind affected textures exist on exposed near and above treeline terrain. In more sheltered areas, thin rain crusts and softer snow exist. 

Regions covered