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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Backcountry travel in the shallow early season snowpack means dealing with highly variable snow surface conditions and numerous exposed and barely covered obstacles. Travel using normal caution. The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Avalanche activity remains unlikely. The variable snow surfaces and the many exposed and barely covered trees, stumps, rocks, logs, etc make finding consistent conditions for snow travel challenging right now. Moving at slower speeds on more mellow terrain and being observant can help avoid obstacles and make snow travel more fun. Scouting approaches to places worth visiting in a deeper snowpack can make those trips easier when the time comes. Now is also a great time to brush up on companion rescue skills or practice identifying potential avalanche terrain and safe zones/routes. 

Avalanche Discussion

On northerly aspects above 8600 ft. in the Mt. Rose area, above 7000 ft. along the northern Sierra Crest, and above 8000 ft. along the southern Sierra Crest the snowpack remains about 1-2 feet deep and mostly supportable. The snow surface varies widely. More sun-exposed easterly aspects hold frozen crusts in the morning and soft wet sticky snow if the crusts melt during daytime warming. Significant snow-melt has occurred on the southerly aspects leaving exposed ground on many of these slopes. On slopes exposed to the winds, uneven scoured and wind packed surfaces exist. Moving into more sheltered areas these firm surfaces give way to breakable crusts. On the most sheltered northerly facing slopes, some areas of soft surface snow still linger (near-surface facets). Clear cool nights will allow these facets to continue to weaken while warmer weather will slow the process down. Problematic weak layers have grown during dry spells in the past and only time will tell if the facets growing now will become a problem layer in the future.

Regions covered