Central Sierra Nevada

Avalanche problems

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  1

  Strong SW/W winds will continue through today with light amounts of new snow available for wind transport.  Newly formed wind slab avalanches will be possible in near and above treeline areas.  Most wind slabs are expected to be small in size due to limited new snow, but in some areas wind slab avalanches could be large enough to be problematic for backcountry users. 

  Look for blowing snow, new cornice development, and fresh wind pillows.  Strong winds will have scoured most exposed areas down to previous firm crusts.

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Possible

  Size

  1

  This storm will quickly move through our area this morning bringing some clearing with partly sunny skies this afternoon.  Loose wet avalanches will become possible as warming and solar radiation increase during the day.  These loose wet instabilities will mainly involve the recent storm snow along with the old snow as the surface crusts warm and lose strength.

  Monitor snow surface conditions.  As the new storm snow becomes wet and/or the snow surface starts to lose supportability, its' time to use terrain options to limit your exposure to the loose wet avalanche hazards.