Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago.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

Highlights

Isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form today near and above treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW. Isolated areas of small and shallow wind slab instability are expected today in wind loaded areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Areas of blowing snow will create a fresh round of shallow wind slabs today in near and above treeline areas. These new slabs will deposit on top of older wind slabs that have shown good stability in recent days in all but very isolated areas. Ridgetop winds out of the S to SE rather than the more typical SW will alter the typical pattern of wind slab deposition across slopes to some degree. Winds out of the S to SE will also have better access to old snow on the ground for redistribution than what is available on SW to W aspects. Any avalanche activity that occurs today is expected to be rather small in size. Consequences of triggering an avalanche will be directly tied to interaction with secondary terrain hazards such as rocks, trees, cliffs, and terrain traps.

Avalanche Discussion

Recent observations from around the forecast area indicate stable snowpack conditions in the vast majority of locations. Evidence of instability has been very isolated over the past few days. Snowpit tests performed yesterday on the crown of the Dec 13 skier triggered avalanche near Elephant's Back (Carson Pass area) indicated that the weak layer of lower density storm snow at the base of the wind slab was still reactive at that location. Otherwise, many slope scale assessments performed in a variety of areas over this past weekend yielded no evidence of instability.

Regions covered