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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations and on all aspects. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Some areas of shallow, soft, and wet surface snow may form today on the sun exposed aspects. However, cooler daytime highs, continued light east winds, last night's strong refreeze, and the fact that the snowpack has already been through several extended melt-freeze cycles will all work to prevent large wet snow instabilities from forming today. While unlikely, some isolated small roller balls, small pinwheels, and small loose wet snow slides are not impossible on the most sun-exposed low to mid elevation SE-S-SW aspects. If any of these instabilities do occur today, they should not entrain very much snow nor should they present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Incline Lake Peak between 8300 and 9600 ft. enough melting occurred for 1 to 4 inches of soft wet snow to form on the surface of the E-SE-S-SW aspects by 2 pm. This wet surface snow existed on top of layers of mostly frozen melt freeze snow that easily supported a skier's weight. Observations in this area did not produce any signs of wet snow instabilities prior to 3 pm. Data and observations from the more sheltered and shaded northerly aspects revealed a stable snowpack capped with variable surface conditions ranging from crusts, to wind scoured surfaces, to small patches of softer snow.

Regions covered