Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Moderate avalanche danger will exist in near and above treeline terrain due to a wind slab avalanche problem.  Low avalanche danger will exist in below treeline areas.  Look for unstable snow in wind loaded terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wind slabs will continue to be possible on all aspects in near and above treeline terrain.  Strong to gale force SW winds were followed by moderate to strong NW and NE winds yesterday.  W winds are forecasted this morning before becoming light later today.  Wind slabs are mostly expected to be small, but in areas that received the higher end of storm totals wind slabs could be large enough to injure or bury a backcountry user.

    Look for snow surface clues, cornice formation, and wind pillows as to where wind slabs may have formed.  Many exposed areas have been scoured down to firm crusts by the recent winds.  Newly formed cornices may be sensitive to the weight of a backcountry user.

Avalanche Discussion

* 6 to 8'' of storm snow was reported on Tamarack Peak (Mt. Rose area) yesterday with an additional 1 to 2'' of snow throughout the day.  Small wind slabs were found in wind loaded terrain with localized cracking.  Overall wind slab instability was limited in this area.

* Reports from Andesite Peak (Donner Summit area) reported 4 to 6'' of new snow with minor wind slab activity.

* Moderate to strong NW and NE winds scoured exposed areas and created small wind slabs and cornice formation on SE-S-SW aspects.

* Thin snow cover conditions exist throughout the forecast area on all aspects at lower elevations. Thin snow cover or bare ground exists on most sun-exposed aspects at all elevations.

Regions covered