Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

LOW avalanche danger will exist while the snow remains frozen and supportable early this morning. The danger will quickly increase to MODERATE as loose wet avalanche problems become possible due to rapid warming and strong sunshine. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    A thick supportable melt/freeze crust exists above a layer of wet snow on most slopes across the region. Rapid warming and strong sunshine today should cause this crust to melt quickly. Once it melts loose wet avalanches will become possible. These could entrain enough wet snow to cause problems for backcountry travelers, especially on long, steep, sun-exposed slopes. 

    Conditions will change quickly today and could go from frozen and supportable to loose and wet in a short amount of time. Rollerballs, pinwheels, and boot-top deep wet snow can provide clues that larger loose wet avalanches may soon be possible and that recreation conditions are getting wet and sloppy. As soon as the snow starts becoming unsupportable, it is time to call it a day or move to low angle slopes.    

Avalanche Discussion

* Observations from Donner Summit and Jakes Peak yesterday found frozen supportable melt/freeze crusts on all aspects in the morning. By noon enough warming had occurred for corn conditions to exist at the lower elevations. Upper elevations on Jakes still remained firm.

* By 12:30 pm yesterday on S-SE-E aspects at ~7000 ft on Donner Summit, conditions started to become unsupportable to a person on foot and ankle deep wet snow existed. 

Regions covered