Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems vary with wind, sun, and elevation today. Near ridges, strong winds will pile potentially unstable drifts of snow onto slopes. Down low, strong sun, warmer air, and less wind may allow wet snow to slide downhill. Watch out for wind-drifted snow on open slopes near ridges and sunny slopes where the snow feels wet.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    The NE winds picked back up last night and will remain strong through tonight. Expect more widespread blowing snow and wind-scoured surfaces today. Slabs of wind-blown snow will continue to build on NW-W-SW-S-SE aspects. Most of the wind slabs will exist at mid and upper elevations near ridges where the winds are strongest. Wind slab avalanches could be possible today, especially on the newly loaded slopes. A few wind slabs may still linger on N-NE-E aspects that escaped scouring or in complex terrain where the NE winds cross-load these slopes. While some wind slabs could be small and not involve much snow, some wind slabs could grow large enough to bury or injure a person.  

    Blowing snow, cornices above a slope, wind drifts, wind-created surface textures, and snow surface cracking can all help identify areas where fragile wind slabs may exist. Move around these areas with caution. Places sheltered from the winds will hold more consistent and less wind-affected snow. 

    (3/5/2022)

    Small wind slab avalanche triggered on test slope with two passes on the snowmobile near Blue Lakes

  • Loose Wet

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

    Cooler weather and strong NE winds above 8000 ft should help limit wet snow formation at the upper elevations. Below 8000 ft temperatures may still climb above freezing, and the forecast calls for less wind. These warming factors combined with the strong March sun should allow wet snow to form on mid and lower elevation sunny slopes today. Wet loose instabilities would be most prevalent on open E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Sheltered gullies and areas near sunny rocks or trees will warm up the fastest. Wet loose avalanches gather more snow as they move downhill, so long steep slopes can produce larger wet loose avalanches. 

    Look for signs of wet snow as you travel. When you start to see rollerballs, pinwheels, or other signs of wet snow, it is time to avoid steep slopes and move into lower-angle terrain.

    (3/6/2022)

    Skier triggered D1 wet loose avalanche on a SE facing gully on Mt. Houghton above 9000 ft. 

Avalanche Discussion

  • A skier-triggered wet loose avalanche occurred in a SE-facing gully on Mt Houghton yesterday where the sun was strong enough to create wet snow despite air temperatures remaining below freezing. 
  • A few small wind slab failures have been reported around the forecast area since Saturday (Blue Lakes, Silver Peak, Tamarack Peak).
  • Snowmelt on SE-S-SW aspects has exposed bare ground in many areas, limiting over snow travel options on these aspects.
  • The old near surface facet layer that was buried on Feb 14 following the prolonged Jan/Feb dry spell has become less of a concern over the past week. In many locations, the moisture content and strength of this layer have increased. Any areas where this layer remains drier and weaker with the ability to collapse and propagate will be extremely isolated across the forecast area if they exist at all.

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