Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger will increase this afternoon following the onset of snowfall. Very strong winds will blow and drift new snow forming it into potentially unstable slabs near ridgelines and gully features. Move carefully around areas where more than a couple of inches of wind drifted snow has deposited, especially on slopes below or adjacent to cornice features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Once new snow begins to fall this afternoon, a wind slab avalanche problem will begin to develop. Strong to gale force winds out of the SW will blow and drift new snow, forming new wind slabs in the areas where wind drifted snow is depositing. This will occur mainly above treeline and near treeline on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Potential avalanche size is mostly expected at D1, with the possibility of a size D2 avalanche in any areas where 4+ inches of new snowfall occurs.

    Keep on the lookout for blowing and drifting snow and where it is depositing. Slopes below or adjacent to cornices, areas along ridgelines, and cross-loaded gully features will become areas of concern for unstable wind slabs. If you start to trigger snow surface cracking, this avalanche problem has developed. Moving to wind sheltered terrain while identifying and steering clear of the locations where wind drifted snow is depositing will reduce the chances of encountering this avalanche problem.

Avalanche Discussion

Recent Observations:

  • Melt-freeze crust exists on the surface across most E-SE-S-SW-W aspect terrain. This will highly limit the amount of blowing and drifting snow that occurs today prior to the start of new snowfall.
  • Some layers of weaker snow in the form of facets or buried surface hoar can be found about one to two feet below the snow surface on some NW-N-NE aspects. It is unlikely that the amount of low density new snow load that occurs this week will overload these layers.

Regions covered