Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 10 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations. While triggering an avalanche has become unlikely, some unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features and small avalanches could still occur in isolated or extreme terrain. Continue to evaluate the terrain and snowpack while traveling in the backcountry to identify where these isolated areas of unstable snow may still exist.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • All elevations
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    0

    Overall data and observations have shown a well-bonded, consolidated snowpack across the forecast area. Triggering an avalanche has become unlikely. Unlikely does not mean impossible, and some unstable snow could still exist on isolated terrain features. Steep, complex, and extreme terrain and unsupported slopes like couloirs, cliffy areas, or hanging snowfields represent the best places to find these isolated areas of instability where a person may still encounter a lingering avalanche issue like a wind slab or a cornice failure. Large cornices that could break under the weight of a person still exist along many ridgelines. Despite the low avalanche danger, continue to practice appropriate backcountry travel techniques like regrouping in safe areas out of avalanche terrain and only having one person on a slope at a time. 

Avalanche Discussion

Observations on Becker Ridge (Echo Summit) and Castle/Andesite (Donner Summit) showed variable snow conditions with wind scoured and firm wind-packed surfaces on exposed near and above treeline slopes and softer cold snow remaining on sheltered northerly aspects in near and below treeline terrain. On the sun exposed aspects in both areas, thin sun crusts or wet snow had formed on the surface. Surface hoar that persisted into the afternoon in shady areas had also formed on open slopes. Snowpit tests and observations in these areas showed a strengthening snowpack with good bonding within and between the layers. On Castle Peak, ski kicks could still break cornices, but those cornice pieces did not trigger any other signs of instabilities. At lower elevations near Little Truckee Summit below the inversion layer, cool cloudy conditions existed. Snow surfaces remained soft and cold on the northerly aspects. Snowpit data did reveal some facets near the Jan. 12th rain crust that exists in some areas below 7500 ft, but tests did not show signs of instability on this layer at this time.

Regions covered