Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You could trigger a slab avalanche today on slopes that hold recently wind drifted snow. Surface wet snow will form on sun exposed slopes, allowing for the possibility of wet loose avalanches to occur as daytime warming progresses. Identify suspect avalanche terrain, either where wind drifted snow has filled in or where wet snow roller balls are occurring. Move around these areas with caution.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Areas of unstable wind slab may linger in the backcountry today. Yesterday's new snow and SW winds formed cohesive slabs along the down wind side of ridgetops. Slopes below or adjacent to cornice features as well wind exposed, convex terrain remain suspect locations for backcountry travelers to trigger slab avalanches today.

    Use clues such as cornices, wind drifts, snow surface texture, and snow surface cracking to identify slopes of concern. Move around these areas with caution. Opting for wind sheltered terrain below treeline reduces the risk of encountering this avalanche problem today.

    (3/17/2025) Small wind slab, triggered on the very edge of avalanche terrain. E aspect near 8,200'. Andesite Peak, Donner Summit, CA

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Even though air temperatures will not get super warm today, incoming solar radiation from the strong mid-March sun will create areas of snow surface melt.  This snow surface melt will make wet loose avalanche possible today on sun exposed slopes. Wet loose avalanches large enough to bury or injure a person could occur on longer slopes with sustained slope angles.

    Signs of wet snow instability will form first in places where exposed rock contributes to increased snow surface warming. Look for early signs of developing wet snow instability, such as roller balls occurring naturally as new snow melts and falls off of rocks and trees. The ability to trigger larger pinwheels and/or wet snow sluffs indicate that sufficient melt exists for larger wet loose avalanches to occur. Opting for shaded or more northerly facing terrain, or lower angle slopes in general, can reduce exposure to this avalanche problem.

    Small natural, wet loose avalanches that initiated near exposed rocks which contribute to increase snow surface warming.

    (3/8/2025) NE Bowl of Mt. Tallac, CA, Photo: Public

Regions covered