Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Refrozen surfaces may take longer to soften today because of cooler temperatures and NE winds. Significant loose wet instabilities should remain unlikely. Careful timing and terrain selection can help find softer snow and avoid firm snow surfaces where long sliding falls could occur. The avalanche danger will remain LOW. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Lows in the 20's and less cloud cover during the night should have allowed for a solid overnight refreeze. Today, widespread sunshine will work to melt the refreeze while slightly cooler temperatures and NE winds will work to keep the snow surfaces cool. On lower elevation, wind-protected E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, the warming side should have the advantage and the snow surface could soften by midday. On more wind-exposed upper elevation slopes, the balance may remain tipped toward cooling and surfaces could remain mostly firm today. Sizable loose wet instabilities remain unlikely. 

    Firm and variable conditions with many exposed obstacles present hazards like long sliding falls and collisions with immovable objects. Terrain selection and careful timing can lead your group to softer more enjoyable snow. If conditions don't match your group's skills and equipment, wait for the snow to soften, move to a different slope, or even retreat to a different activity. 

Avalanche Discussion

* Spring-like melt-freeze conditions exist on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects.

* NW-N-NE aspects hold variable conditions with mostly firm surfaces on near and above treeline slopes and breakable crust with isolated pockets of softer snow on wind-protected below treeline slopes. Yesterday observers also reported wet sticky snow on some lower elevation northerly aspects.

* No reports of new loose wet avalanches have been received this week.

Regions covered