Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Southwest winds picked up overnight and should continue throughout today.  Watch for areas of freshly deposited wind slab that could be sensitive to a human trigger on Northerly to Easterly facing terrain, especially below ridgelines and sidewalls of gullies.  Avalanche danger is MODERATE today especially around Mammoth, and will increase overnight for all areas with the arrival of new snowfall.   

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    SW winds began picking up yesterday, increased overnight, and are expected to continue today with gusts into the 80mph range over ridgetops. These winds have been redistributing Thursday’s snowfall, likely creating some sensitive wind slabs on the leeward side of ridgelines and gully sidewalls on Northerly to Easterly facing terrain.  Areas around Mammoth which received close to a foot of new snow on Thursday will be more concerning than either areas further north near VA Lakes or south near Bishop which only got about 3”. Watch for clues such as cornice development and blowing snow to help you identify where smooth dense snow deposits may exist.  Do your own localized assessments before committing to steep consequential terrain.  Even a small slide could result in injury especially with all the obstacles present in our shallow snowpack.

Avalanche Discussion

Underneath Thursday’s new snow exists a very variable snowpack with many areas of crusts and weak sugary facets that developed during a month-long dry spell, except for southerly facing slopes and most slopes below ~9000’ which were mostly bare. While these weak facets haven’t been a stability concern yet, multiple feet of incoming snow will certainly change that.  Large avalanches will be likely in coming days as slopes get rapidly loaded.

Regions covered