Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Any lingering unstable snow is expected to be isolated to areas where blowing snow was deposited near ridgelines. Any avalanches will be small but consider the consequences of injury from being pushed into rocks in the shallow snowpack. Very firm surface conditions continue to exist in many areas. Avalanche danger will increase tonight into tomorrow with another storm.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    There remains a low likelihood for an isolated area of instability to linger following a few inches of new snow and wind from the past two days. Keep an eye out for areas along ridgelines where any amount of cornice or wind drift exists on NW-N-NE-E aspects. Carefully evaluate the slope below. Avalanche size is expected to be rather small and consequences will probably come from injury when pushed into rocks in the shallow snowpack rather than from burial.

Avalanche Discussion

* 1 to 3 feet of snow exists on NW-N-NE aspects with continuous snow cover starting above about 8,000-8,500 ft.  Below about 7,800'-8,000', expect to find a mix of patchy snow cover and bare ground.

* On the NW-N-NE aspects that hold continuous snow cover, the existing snowpack is weak in many areas, especially above 8,500'. During the prolonged Nov 10-Dec 5 dry spell the faceting process turned much of the middle and upper snowpack into weak sugary snow. Some strength gains were seen yesterday in the upper snowpack from increased moisture added to the sugary snow by the last storm.

* Almost all SE-S-SW-W aspects are snow-free with continuous bare ground exposed.

* Surface wet snow that existed yesterday likely refroze last night and will create firm icy travel conditions in many areas today.

Regions covered