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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger should remain LOW today for all aspects and elevations. LOW danger does not mean no danger and unlikely does not mean impossible. Some small, shallow, isolated areas of unstable snow could still exist on some isolated terrain features. Continue to practice safe travel habits and thoughtful decision making when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Avalanche activity will remain unlikely today. Data and observations indicate that the recent snow has consolidated and bonded to the old snow surfaces in most areas. While some small isolated areas of unstable snow may still linger on isolated terrain features, finding and triggering one of these small patches of lingering instability has become difficult. Some small isolated wet snow instabilities involving the recent snow may occur today as the day warms up, but these should remain small as well since very little recent snow exists above the crusts.

    Any instabilities that do occur today should not involve enough snow to do much more than knock a person off balance or push a person off his/her intended course. In most areas any snowpack instabilities would represent more an inconvenience than an actual problem unless they occur in areas that magnify the consequences of any size avalanche or where any stumble or fall can have serious consequences. These kind of places include steep couliors, slopes above cliffs, and other complex or extreme terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Powderhouse Peak near Luther Pass, wet sticky snow existed on the northerly aspects at all elevations by 1 pm. Some small skier triggered pinwheels did occur on steep test slopes, but observations showed no other signs of wet snow instabilities. Snowpit data and general observations also indicated that the snowpack continues to gain strength. A softer layer of snow does remain below the crust at the base of the recent snow, but tests targeting this layer did not reveal any signs of instability associated with this layer. Below 8500 ft. in this area, the snow cover remains sparse with large rocks, stumps, logs, and areas of bare ground exposed on the slopes.

Regions covered