Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will remain LOW today. In the unlikely but not impossible event an avalanche does occur today, it would be a wind slab on an isolated terrain feature. The avalanche danger will increase tomorrow.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    The small amount of new snow expected today should not change the avalanche conditions significantly, and avalanche activity should remain unlikely until the larger storm arrives tomorrow. Some unstable wind slabs could still linger on a few isolated terrain features especially in more complex terrain with steeper slopes, more terrain traps (ie consequences), and more trigger points. A firm icy rain crust exists on the snow surface in many areas along the Sierra Crest. Long sliding falls on this crust would be difficult to stop.

    Make a plan that creates safety margins and provides terrain options. This plan could simply be recreating in more sheltered terrain at higher elevations to take advantage of softer snow without the rain crust or the unlikely wind slabs. Continue to manage the group with safe travel techniques like crossing avalanche terrain one at a time and regrouping in safe zones.

Avalanche Discussion

* Widespread rain crusts exist on the Sierra Crest. Below 8700 ft this crust is firm and icy. At the upper elevations, this crust becomes breakable and thin. The crust did not exist above 8800 ft. in the Mt. Rose backcountry.

* Observers found small recent wind slabs and older firm wind slabs on Elephants Back and on Tamarack Peak. In both cases some small shallow cracking occurred in the top few inches of the newer wind slabs but no signs of larger instabilities were noted.

* Some potential weak layers still exist near and just below the snow surface.

Regions covered