Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Wet snow instabilities are likely today on all aspects and elevations. Look for rollerballs, mushy snow, and recent avalanche activity, especially near rocks, vegetation, and cliffbands. Plan to travel on slopes with colder snow surfaces and dial back your slope angle and exposure to steep terrain overhead as daytime warming occurs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Last night's refreeze was better than expected. However, snow surfaces may warm quickly today as freezing level rises from 10,000' to 12,000', bringing the Wet Loose avalanche hazard even higher into the alpine. Look for rollerballs, pinwheels, mushy, unsupportable snow, and recent avalanche activity to alert you to the problem. Radiators such as rocks, vegetation, and cliff bands tend to heat up first, warming nearby snow quickly.

    Wet Loose avalanches often fail from a single point and entrain heavy snow as they move downhill. Travel early when the snow surface is colder. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder slopes or to lower slope angles once the snow surface turns to mush. Avoid steep slopes above terrain traps, cliffs, and sustained steep pitches.

    (3/23/2025)

    D2 natural wet loose avalanche ran 3/23 before 3 pm. Northeast aspect, 11500 ft. Tungstar Bowls, Pine Creek. 

    Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

  • Cornices

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

    Many leeward ridgelines have been developing large cornices since the beginning of the season. Cornices are overhanging and unsupported by slopes below, and can break off terrain suddenly and unexpectedly. As temperatures warm, the roots and strcuture of a cornice can deteriorate, and the likelihood of a cornice break increases. Cornices can pull back further than expected on to a flat ridge, and can be triggered from a good distance away. Cornices are very unpredictable. Avoiding travel above and below cornices is the best way to minimize your exposure. If you have to travel on ridgelines with cornices or on slopes below them, be sure to give them a wide berth. 

    (3/23/2025)

    Large cornices looming over Jaws. Mammoth Crest.

    Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Although it feels like spring, our snowpack is still very much in a state of transition. While some slopes are starting to develop melt forms on surfaces, with wet to moist snow beneath, others are still very much transitioning, with mostly dry snow just beneath the surface. We can expect the upper snowpack to continue to transition today, and will need to be heads up to continued wet snow instabilities around the compass rose. Conditions will deteriorate as water percolates deeper into the snowpack. If that happens, Wet Loose avalanche debris could trigger a larger slab avalanche. Timing your day appropriately will be essential to maximize safety, efficiency, and fun. 

Regions covered