Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Loose wet avalanches will become possible at all elevations as the day warms up. The avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE at all elevations today. Other lingering avalanche problems may also still exist like the large cornices above many slopes or instabilities on isolated terrain features in complex or extreme terrain. Identify terrain where avalanche problems may exist and use this information to plan a travel route that avoids the problematic terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Continued warmth and sunshine today will keep loose wet avalanches as an avalanche problem on slopes where the snow becomes warm and wet especially on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. As cloud cover increases this afternoon, loose wet instability may become less widespread. However, the clouds could act as a blanket to distribute the warmth to the northerly aspects where some small loose wet instabilities may begin to form on slopes below 8000 ft.  Roller balls, pinwheels, and wet point release avalanches could occur today. Many of these should remain small, but some of them could entrain enough snow to knock a person or machine off balance or push them off course into more consequential terrain. 

    As the day warms up, pay attention to where small loose wet instabilities occur and where wet snow forms and avoid steep slopes on those aspects.

  • Glide Cracks

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Large cornices that could break well away from their edges under the weight of a person on top of them exist along many ridgelines across the forecast area. While their failure is unlikely to trigger a wind slab avalanche below them except in isolated areas in complex or extreme terrain, they are large enough to cause problems on their own. Give these cornices a wide berth and stay well away from their edges. 

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday a small skier-triggered avalanche occurred in the complex terrain in the north bowl of Castle Peak. This 6-inch deep slab avalanche was likely a leftover wind slab from the recent storm. It buried the skier who triggered it waist deep but did not injure him. In other areas including Secret Peak on the West Shore, Becker/Talking Mountain on Echo Summit, and Rose Knob Peak no signs of lingering wind slab instability existed on northerly aspects. On the E-SE-S-SW aspects in these areas, numerous small loose wet avalanches occurred both naturally near rocks and cliffs as well as in response to ski cuts on steep slopes. In the Echo summit area and on Genoa Peak near Spooner Summit widespread surface hoar existed on many slopes. 

Regions covered