Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

As west winds increase throughout the day watch for growing fresh small wind slabs sensitive to a human trigger on N-E-S facing terrain near treeline and above where avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE.  LOW avalanche danger will persist below tree line and for all elevations in areas south toward bishop that received very little snow from last week’s storm.   

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Winds shifted out of the west overnight and are expected to increase throughout the day with gusts into the 50s even at mid-elevations. These winds could transport loose snow left over from Friday’s storm, and certainly the 4-8” of light snow that fell near June Saturday night, into small fresh wind slabs sensitive to a human trigger near and above tree line on N-E-S facing terrain. Watch out for fresh dense smooth deposits on steeper slopes especially just below ridgelines and the sidewalls of gullies. Blowing snow will be your best clue as to where these may lie, and shooting cracks are an indication of unstable snow.

Avalanche Discussion

A surprise up-slope lake-effect snowfall occurred in the June area on Saturday night dropping up to 8” of very light snow on the sheltered peaks behind June Mtn. This light loose snow will be especially easy for today’s winds to transport into sensitive wind slabs, and could be more concerning at mid-elevations where yesterday’s north winds didn’t blow it away.        

RECENT OBSERVATIONS

*Details of skier being carried by avalanche in the Negatives behind June on 3/20.

-3/21 - June – Negative & Hemlock: 4-8” of overnight snowfall, winds, snowpack.

-3/21 – June – Negatives: Overnight snowfall, chilly temps, winds and surface melt.

-3/21 – Mammoth – Smugglers Notch – Snowpack observations.

-3/20 – Mammoth Lakes Basin – Red Cone: Conditions and winds.

-3/20 – Convict – Old Man’s Bowl: New snow and winds.

Regions covered