Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Backcountry travelers unintentionally triggered large avalanches yesterday that failed on weak snow several feet below the snow surface. Similar avalanches could be triggered today, especially in the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area near 8,000 ft and higher. Opting for lower-angle, low-consequence terrain can help reduce the chances of getting caught in a large avalanche today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Old, weak, faceted snow lurks below several feet of recent storm snow in parts of the forecast area. These weak layers reached their tipping point over the past few days and have been slow to stabilize. As is often the case with persistent slabs, these weak layers are not always easy to trigger, and snowpit test results can be hit or miss. Reports of continued instability include:

    • One snowboarder caught and carried yesterday in a wide propagating size D3 avalanche on a N to NE aspect around 9,200' near Blue Lakes, south of Carson Pass. This avalanche was triggered during the group's second run on the slope.
    • A snowboarder remotely triggered a size D2 avalanche yesterday near Ebbetts Pass on a N aspect near 9,000'.
    • Multiple other parties reported additional snowpack collapses and whumpfs in the Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass areas yesterday.

    Backcountry travelers could trigger persistent slab avalanches again today. NW-N-NE-E-facing slopes at elevations near and above 8,000 ft in the eastern and southern parts of the forecast area are the most likely place for more avalanches today. Fewer signs of instability have been reported from the northern and western portions of the forecast area. Below 8,000 ft, rain during the storms mostly destroyed the faceted weak layers of concern or left behind a very strong, thick rain crust above it.

    Day to day improvements in stability are expected, but more slowly and different than when we are dealing with just recent storm snow and no persistent weak layer. If you are traveling to the aspects and elevation range associated with this avalanche problem, it is a good idea to scale back to conservative, low angle terrain selections for now, especially in the southern and eastern portions of the forecast area. Choosing alternate aspects, such as SE-S-SW, is another way to reduce some of the risk.

    (2/8/2025) This size D3 avalanche was unintentionally triggered by a snowboarder during their group's second descent on this slope. Near Blue Lakes, south of Carson Pass, CA

    Photo: Public

Avalanche Discussion

Some small, isolated wind slabs may exist in places where wind blown snow has filled in to form shallow slabs in above treeline and near treeline terrain. While of some importance, the likely avalanche size is D1.

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