Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will develop today at all elevations as rapid warming of recent storm snow creates a loose wet avalanche problem. Avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain on slopes with marginally supportable to unsupportable wet snow conditions or on slopes where roller balls are occurring.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    Today is fairly prime for human triggered loose wet avalanche activity. Rapid warming conditions will affect the recent new snow from April 15-16 that has yet to have had full exposure to previous melt-freeze cycles this past week. Loose wet avalanches will become possible on all aspects at all elevations as daytime warming progresses. Avalanche size up to D2 is possible (large enough to bury or injure a person).

    Human triggered roller balls will be an indication that unstable wet snow conditions are developing. E-SE-S-SW-W aspects will hold a short window of supportability this morning on a thin melt-freeze crust. Once the fairly thin melt-freeze crust becomes marginally supportable to unsupportable, recent storm snow below it will become prone to loose wet avalanche activity. NW-N-NE aspect slopes that hold breakable crust over recent storm snow or recent storm snow without a surface crust will go straight to developing a loose wet avalanche problem today. Avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain on slopes with marginally supportable to unsupportable wet snow conditions or on slopes where roller balls are occurring.

Avalanche Discussion

* Recent field observations have indicated that the recent new snow from April 15-16 has remained transitional on all aspects. This snow has yet to become fully affected by melt-freeze due to the cloud cover, snow showers, and below average air temperatures this past week.

* Snow cover continues to become thin to nonexistent in the lower elevations of the forecast area. Snowcover improves above 7,200'-8,000' depending on location. Numerous open creeks exist below 8,000'.

Regions covered