Central Sierra Nevada

The limited amount of precipitation that may or may not fall today should not change the fact that avalanches remain unlikely. Factor variable snow, including firm and uneven surfaces, into your plans and monitor the conditions and terrain as you travel. If you see any signs of unstable snow or unexpected conditions, choose a different route.

Normal caution

Variable snow surfaces across the forecast area present both challenges and options for backcountry travel. Plan your travel to take advantage of the options by using a variety of aspects and elevations to find terrain and conditions that match your group's skills and goals. The limited amount of snow or rain that might fall today should not be enough to change the avalanche conditions. Still pay attention and change plans if you see any signs of unstable snow, such as snow surface cracking, or encounter unexpected or unwanted conditions.

The snow surfaces vary greatly by aspect and elevation. Whether a slope is sheltered and shady or has previous tracks adds to the variation. Expect a mix of wind-sculpted surfaces on exposed slopes, spring-like melt-freeze conditions on sunny slopes, and some areas of soft, weak surface snow on N aspects without previous tracks. Crusts and transitional snow also exist on many of the in-between aspects with uneven surfaces on previously tracked slopes. Any precipitation that falls today may add to that variability by raining lightly on some slopes or putting a dusting of new snow on others. Still, this minor amount of possible precipitation should not change the fact that avalanches remain unlikely. The cloud cover could also affect the snow surface today by slowing warming on south aspects and redistributing some warmth to north aspects. 

Deep open holes, open creeks, and ponded water persist around the forecast area, especially below 8,000' in low-lying areas, but some lurk at higher elevations as well.