Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wind drifted new snow will lead to a wind slab avalanche problem today in above treeline and near treeline areas. MODERATE avalanche danger will exist today above treeline and near treeline. LOW avalanche danger will exist in wind protected areas below treeline. Anticipate that the shallow new snow will hide rocks and logs that have been barely protruding from the existing snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    New snow and wind today will create new wind slabs in locations where drifting snow is depositing. This will occur in near and above treeline areas, mainly on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Avalanche size is expected at D1 to D2.

    Identify where wind drifted snow is depositing and forming wind slabs. This will occur mainly below cornice areas and/or where pillows of deeper wind drifted snow are forming. Shooting cracks will also be a sign of unstable snow in the immediate area today. Once you have identified the areas of concern for this avalanche problem, make a plan to move around them with caution and minimized risk.

Avalanche Discussion

* Mist and light rain were reported from Donner Pass (7,100') at 6 am this morning.

* Recent observations from around the forecast area over the past several days have been fairly uniform from one location to another.

* Melt-freeze conditions have been prominent on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects for the latter half of this past week. Surface snow on upper elevation E aspects is still in a transitional state between recent storm snow and consolidated melt-freeze.

* NW-N-NE aspects are a highly variable mix of pockets of lingering recent storm snow, wind scoured areas, and superficial melt-freeze.

* The existing snowpack has a few relative weak layers in the upper snowpack on NW-N-NE aspects but is in good condition to handle the forecast amounts of new snow loading.

Regions covered