Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Another storm will begin to impact our region today and tonight.  Slabs of wind drifted snow will continue to be a concern in exposed areas.  Light rain and warm temperatures may cause areas of wet snow instabilities.  Human triggered avalanches remain possible today.  Avalanche danger is expected to increase overnight into Saturday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong to gale force South/Southwest winds will build winds slabs in near and above treeline areas.  Most blowing snow this morning will exist above the rain/snow line from yesterday where snow is available for wind transport.  As the storm moves into our area, blowing snow and snow transport will become more widespread.  Large cornices exist along most ridgelines and may remain fragile. 

    Recent avalanches, blowing snow, wind pillows, and snow surface clues will all indicate the presence of wind slabs.   Make a plan to avoid steep wind loaded slopes with large cornices above.  Better snow quality will exist in wind protected below treeline areas today.

    (1/12/2023)

    Natural wind slab avalanche in the Round Top area, Carson Pass.  Crown heights looked to be in the 2-4' range. 

  • Loose Wet

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

    Last night, we had cloudy skies with near to well above freezing temperatures above 7000’.  Snow surface conditions are made up of wet snow and refrozen rain crusts below 8000' with more winter snow above the recent rain/snow line.  As additional warming occurs today with light rain up to 7500',  wet loose avalanches will become possible.  Most of these wet instabilities should be in the form of roller balls, but some could become larger wet loose avalanches.    

    Monitor the snow surface conditions in your area.    Wet and deep snow and snow that is getting rained on will be the most susceptible to wet loose avalanches today.

Avalanche Discussion

  • No additional avalanches have been reported in the backcountry associated with multiple different buried rain crusts that have formed during the last several weeks of storms.  After further observations, the large D 2.5 avalanche at Blue Lakes in the Carson Pass area on Jan 8, 2023, looks to have failed on a different layer than the Jan 4 rain crust.  Complex and varied layering still exists in our upper to mid snowpack.   
  • The Wednesday night into early Thursday morning rain event was more widespread than expected with evidence of rain up to 8000’.  Wet surface snow exists in many areas with firm rain crusts in locations that refroze overnight.  Some areas of firm rain crust may pose travel concerns.
  • Surface hoar has been reported in the 8000-9000' range.  Please let us know what you see out there as our next storm moves in.

Regions covered