Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

When or if wet snow forms depends on cloud cover, wind, and temperature. Some soft wet snow may form on sunny low and mid-elevation slopes, but shady slopes and windy areas up high may stay mostly frozen. Avalanches are unlikely.

New snow and wind over the next few days could increase the avalanche danger.

Avalanche Discussion

Normal caution

Stronger winds, more cloud cover, and cooler temperatures should limit the amount of wet snow that forms today. Some shallow, soft, wet snow may still form on sunny mid and low-elevation E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Upper elevations slopes exposed to the winds could stay mostly frozen today. Avalanches remain unlikely today.  

Before you head out, make a plan with your group targetting terrain and conditions that match your group's skills and goals. Keep communicating while you travel so that your group can remain nimble and adjust to unexpected conditions. A series of small storms forecasted to move through the area between tonight and Wednesday morning could bring enough snow and wind for new avalanche problems to form. Keep checking back for the latest updates and details.

Recent Observations:

  • Snowmelt has sped up since the beginning of February. Many more obstacles (rocks, bushes, etc) and areas of bare ground have melted out on SE-S-SW aspects.
  • The light snowfall from Feb 15 helped to smooth the previously rough snow surfaces in some areas. Variable snow surface conditions ranging from firm ice to soft snow remain widespread.
  • A well-bonded and consolidated snowpack exists across nearly all aspects and elevations. Gradual near-surface faceting during the long dry spell created weak snow in the top portion of the snowpack on many wind-protected and semi-wind protected NW-N-NE aspects. While the Feb 15th snow did bury this layer, it did not add enough load to create slab avalanche problems in most places. Some very isolated areas on cross-loaded and shaded NW aspects in near and below treeline terrain did get enough snow and wind for a wind slab to form on top of this faceted snow, but no avalanches have been reported. 

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