Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Triggering an avalanche is unlikely, but not impossible. Be on the lookout for wind-stiffened and cracking snow surfaces on slopes adjacent to ridgelines, in couloirs, and mid-slope gullies. Getting knocked off your feet or hitting a shallowly buried obstacle in steep or exposed terrain can still have severe consequences. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Wind-drifted snow has had close to 48 hours to settle. While we can't rule out the unlikely possibility of triggering a small wind slab in isolated areas today, they will be small and stubborn.  Expect the chance of finding an unstable drift to increase as you climb higher in elevation and wrap around to loaded aspects. These will be most common on the leeward sides of ridgelines, and near cross-loaded mid-slope features such as gullies and convex rolls.

    Textured snow surfaces and hollow-sounding snow that feels like styrofoam under your skis are signs the wind has been at work. Cracks shooting out from your skis or board are a sign you've found an unstable slab. While these will not be large avalanches, steep, complex, and exposed terrain can increase the consequences of getting knocked off your feet. 

Avalanche Discussion

Our snowpack has returned to a generally stable state to round out 2024. Sunday's small storm brought up to 7 inches of snow to the northern part of our forecast area. Mammoth received 4 inches, with areas south of Mammoth receiving only 2-3 inches. Observers mostly noted small, stubborn wind slabs just after the storm—and more time has passed since. As the snowpack experiences more days of warm temperatures and high pressure, surface instabilities continue to trend towards unreactive.

Heading out into the mountains one final time for the year, remind yourself that we can't rule out the unlikely possibility of triggering small wind slabs. Before committing to steep and exposed terrain, be sure to evaluate the snowpack on a slope-by-slope basis. While these slides are unlikely to be able to bury a person, getting knocked off your feet in the exposed terrain many of us like to play in can still have dire consequences. Shallowly buried rocks and variable, wind-sculpted, and crusty surfaces also create a fall hazard to keep in mind at the top of a run. Following best travel practices like keeping eyes on your partners, skiing one at a time from safe zone to safe zone in big terrain, and creating margins for uncertainty is always a good call. 

While high pressure continues until later this week, enjoy the sunshine and time to build fitness before 2025 hopefully brings some more snow. 

Regions covered