Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Slightly cooler, windier, and cloudier weather today should keep the snow surface frozen longer and limit the amount of wet snow that forms. Still, an isolated wet loose avalanche may not be impossible on some steep, sunny slope, especially if it's sheltered from the wind. Stick with plans that use good backcountry travel habits and be willing to change plans if you see something different than expected.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Mostly clear skies and slightly cooler temperatures during the night should have allowed yesterday's wet surface snow to refreeze in many places. The refrozen crust will vary in thickness across terrain, with a thicker crust in places where colder air pooled overnight and a thinner crust where the temperatures remained warmer. Slightly cooler temperatures, stronger SW winds, and increasing cloud cover forecasted for today, combined with the low sun angles, should help keep the snow surface frozen a bit longer.  Wet snow may still form on sunny slopes and an isolated wet loose avalanche may not be impossible in a place that experiences the most warming. Overall, though, wet loose avalanches should pose less of a problem today.

    Backcountry travellers should expect variable conditions ranging from soft wet snow to breakable crusts to firm crusts. Create travel plans that match the goals and skills of your group to appropriate terrain and snow conditions. If you see signs of wet snow instability like rollerballs, pinwheels, or boot-top deep wet snow you may be in an area where an isolated wet loose avalanche might occur on a steep slope. 

    (1/29/2024)

    Sunny SE-S-SW aspects had boot-top deep wet snow on them by mid-morning on Monday. Ski kicks on test slopes produced pinwheels 4-5 ft in diameter, roller balls, and sluffs of loose, wet snow.

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

The persistent slab avalanche problem that existed for most of the season has been put to rest in most areas. Any lingering concern is specific to isolated areas along the eastern side of the forecast area where the snowpack remains shallow (less than about 3 feet deep) and still holds faceted, sugary snow in the lower half of the snowpack. This shallow and weak snowpack structure may not handle a large new snow loading event if such an event happens east of the Sierra Crest.

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