Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger will quickly rise to MODERATE at all elevations and on all aspects as the day warms up. Human triggered loose wet avalanches will remain possible today. Natural avalanche activity is unlikely but not impossible.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Even though overnight temperatures again remained above freezing, less cloud cover last night should have allowed a slightly stronger refreeze to occur. Still, the strong sunshine and warm temperatures will melt through this thin refreeze quickly leaving weak unsupportable wet snow behind. Loose wet snow avalanche activity including pinwheels, roller balls, and loose wet snow point release avalanches will become possible on all aspects. Most of these loose wet avalanches should remain relatively small, but small wet snow avalnches can still push a person into an area with other consequences or could become more serious in areas where terrain traps exist. Some larger wet snow instabilities are not impossible today.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday afternoon on Rubicon Peak, stepping out of one's skis resulted in sinking up to mid-shin depth into wet snow on all aspects up to 9000 ft. Ski cuts on small steep test slopes on the N and E and SE aspects triggered small roller balls, pinwheels, and wet snow sluffs.

Regions covered