Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Minor surface wet snow instabilities are possible during the afternoon hours, but are not expected to present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Another solid overnight snow surface refreeze is expected to have occurred last night with near to below freezing air temperatures and radiational cooling under clear skies. Wet surface snow will form in sun exposed areas today in response to daytime warming. Convective cooling from increased NE to E winds is likely to slow the rate of snow surface melt in wind exposed areas. Small, minor wet snow instabilities are possible this afternoon in the form of human triggered roller balls, pinwheels, and/or small shallow loose wet avalanches. The size of any human triggered loose wet avalanche activity today is not expected to present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers.

    Other hazards to manage include exposed rocks and difficult to travel firm icy surfaces on northerly aspects.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) revealed that the period of cooler air temperatures Wednesday night-Thursday-Thursday night had allowed for a solid full depth refreeze of the snowpack to occur. Snow surface melt on Friday was highly focused to SE-S-SW aspects. Between 10 am and noon, 0.5 to 2 inches of surface wet snow on top of very supportable melt-freeze crust was observed on these aspects. Light to moderate speed northeast winds were observed to slow the rate of snow surface melt on open slopes near and above treeline. Otherwise, recent observations from around the forecast area indicate that the snowpack is well bonded on all aspects and shows evidence of continued melt-freeze and/or rounding depending on aspect and elevation.

Regions covered