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

LOW avalanche danger early this morning will increase to MODERATE danger for all elevations as daytime warming progresses. Wet loose avalanches are possible today. Timing of travel in or below sun exposed avalanche terrain is important.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wet loose avalanches will become possible today in sun exposed areas once overnight melt-freeze crusts melt away. The vast majority of wet loose instability is expected to occur on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects on slopes 37 degrees and steeper. Expected size for most avalanche activity is small. In isolated areas a wet loose avalanche with size sufficient to bury a person could occur, especially if a terrain trap is involved.

    Air temperatures this morning are about 10 degrees warmer at the mid and upper elevations than 24 hours ago. Areas of wet snow are expected to form faster today than yesterday. Human triggered roller balls and pinwheels reaching 1 foot or more in diameter will give indication of slopes to avoid. Areas around exposed rock features will heat up more quickly than open snow covered slopes.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Rose Knob Peak (Mount Rose area) noted that human triggered roller balls up to 18 inches in diameter started to occur on E aspects around 8,000' by 10 am. By noon wet snow deeper than boot top height existed on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW aspects up to 9,600'. Some small natural loose wet point releases were noted to have occurred between 10 am and noon on sun exposed SW-W aspects below 8,500.  At the upper elevations, widespread evidence of wind scouring existed. On northerly aspects above 7,800', areas sheltered from E and NE winds held pockets of unconsolidated snow.

Regions covered