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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger continues throughout the forecast region.  Caution is advised when traveling in the backcountry due to the early season conditions and thin snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Early season conditions continue throughout the forecast area.  Hazards such as rocks, bushes, stumps, and logs are exposed or barely covered with our current thin snowpack.  Caution is needed to travel slowly and avoid these obstacles.  

    Light snow transport was observed yesterday from the strong to gale force NE/E winds.  Most of this blowing snow was along the higher exposed ridges, with any wind slab development expected to be small and isolated due to the lack of available snow for transport.  Gully or couloir features in near and above treeline areas would be the most likely areas for any accumulating wind blown snow.  Winds have decreased from yesterday and will continue to decrease through today.

Avalanche Discussion

* A mostly usable and supportable snowpack exists above 8600' in the Mt. Rose area, above 7000' along the northern Sierra Crest, and above 8000' along the southern Sierra Crest.

*  Variable snow surface conditions exist from wind scoured surfaces, soft unconsolidated snow, to a variety of crusts.  Northerly aspects in below treeline areas hold the most snow with exposed areas being wind scoured and southerly aspects having limited to no snow coverage.

*  The faceting process continues with clear skies, long nights, and low sun angles.  Near surface facets have developed on NW-N-NE aspects and also observed on W and E aspects in wind protected areas.  These weak loose grains are becoming a greater concern as storms are now in the forecast with the potential for these near surface facets to become a future buried weak layer.  

Regions covered