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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists today for all elevations. The rate of snow surface melt is expected to be slower today as compared to the past several days. Loose wet avalanches may still occur today, but instability is expected to be less widespread than earlier this week. Avoid travel on or below steep slopes with wet snow and no supportable surface crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Air temperatures remained above freezing again last night with air temperatures just prior to sunrise at most locations above the valley floors in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Generally clear skies last night are expected to have allowed for some thin but supportable snow surface refreeze in open areas from radiational cooling. Areas under forest canopy are likely to have had little to no overnight refreeze. Increasing cloud cover today along with increasing SW winds are expected to slow the rate of snow surface melt as compared to recent days. Loose wet avalanche problems could still develop today, but may hold off until the afternoon hours. Wet snow instability is also expected to be less widespread today than over the past few days.

    The degree of today's loose wet avalanche problem will be highly dependent on how fast significant cloud cover materializes. Loose wet avalanches could still occur at all elevations and on all aspects, especially if cloud cover is slow to arrive. Avoid travel on or below steep slopes with wet snow and no supportable surface crust.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations were made yesterday on Stevens Peak (Carson Pass area). Variable amounts of snow surface refreeze existed during the morning hours. Little to no refreeze had occurred under forest canopy. Thin but supportable snow surface refreeze lasting through the late morning hours had occurred on open slopes with a notably better refreeze above 8,200' than below 8,200'.

Additional hazards in the form of opening glide cracks and cornice collapses have been noted around the forecast area during this recent warm spell. Glide cracks releasing as glide avalanches and cornice collapse events have very low predictability. It is recommended to avoid areas below glide cracks and large cornice features during any warm spell.

Regions covered