Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The streak of warm nights and warmer days with deep wet snow on all aspects and at all elevations continues. Avalanches of wet loose snow will be likely again today.  Consider avoiding travel in or below avalanche terrain in areas where wet snow is more than a few inches deep, especially if it feels unsupportable.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Overnight temperatures remained above freezing again last night at all elevations. In addition to these warm temperatures, cloud cover increased during the night and prevented the snowpack from radiating heat into the night sky. Most places likey experienced little to no overnight refreeze. If any refreeze occurred, it was weak and will melt away quickly as the day warms up. Even though temperatures may not break records today, deep wet snow that has formed and not refrozen from the last several days still exists. Wet loose avalanches will be likely again today.  These could entrain large amounts of wet snow especially if they occur on long slopes. They could also present problems in smaller terrain where terrain traps like gullies, cliffs, and creeks magnify the consequences of these avalanches. Wet loose avalanches could occur on any aspect and at any elevation. 

    Once the snow becomes unsupportable wet loose avalanches are likely. As soon as signs of wet snow like roller balls, pinwheels, or sinking into boot-top deep wet snow exist, it is time to move off of steep slopes and avoid traveling in areas with steep slopes above. Don't be fooled by seemingly supportable snow surface conditions in areas of previous compaction such as high traffic areas near trailheads or on snowcovered roads.

    (3/26/2022)

    A ski cut around 11:45 am at the top of this ENE facing slope triggered a wet loose avalanche that entrained the top 12 to 16 inches of wet snow.

    Photo: Andy Anderson

Avalanche Discussion

  • Deep, wet, and unsupportable snow has been encountered by 9 to 10 am the past four mornings, especially on N-NE-E aspects.
  • Ski cuts on an ENE facing test slope triggered a wet loose avalanche yesterday at 11:45 am. 
  • An isolated wet slab avalanche remains in the back of our minds right now. In some locations, meltwater has reached the old facet layer that was buried on Feb 14 and remained weak in very isolated areas on some shaded NW-N-NE aspects. Snowpit data from Thursday indicates that an isolated wet slab avalanche is not outside the realm of possibility at this time.
  • Snowmelt has intensified on all aspects and elevations throughout the forecast region.  Most SE-S-SW aspects have exposed bare ground in many areas limiting over snow travel options on these aspects.

Regions covered