Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Give yourself a wide margin for error to avoid triggering dangerous avalanches breaking on old, sugary snow. Be suspicious of steep, rocky terrain. Planar slopes less than about 30 degrees offer the best riding for those looking to avoid the hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Shooting cracks and slope-wide whumpfs continue to show that riders can collapse old sugary snow below the surface. In areas with shallower snow, where stiff slabs cover unconsolidated facets, you could still trigger a dangerously large avalanche. Don’t be afraid to dig in and get a look at the lower layers of the snowpack to see if old snow is present in the areas you want to travel. Discipline and patience are key to avoiding this problem. Steer clear of complex, steep, and rocky terrain. Beware of overhead hazards. Persistent slab avalanches can be triggered remotely from adjacent slopes. Give yourself a wide safety margin to limit your exposure to a high-consequence problem that is difficult to assess.

Avalanche Discussion

Forecasters intentionally triggered small wind slabs on Wednesday. Winds have increased steadily over the last 24 hours, likely scouring and stiffening surfaces in exposed terrain at all elevations. While soft snow availible for transport is limited, be on the lookout for areas of recent deposition. Small reactive windslabs may be possible to find today, particularly if winds out perform the forecast.

Little has changed to what’s underneath. The snowpack structure is weak. Sugary facets, or a facet/crust combo, lie in wait 1.5 to 3 feet below the surface. Where the overlying snow is stiffer, and where the snowpack is shallower, riders have reported large collapses, shooting cracks, and propagating test results. Those are red flags showing that you can still affect these buried weak layers and that the resulting avalanche could break across terrain features. Continue to exercise caution. Use simple terrain to manage your exposure to a hazard that’s both dangerous and difficult to predict.

The hazard will rise quickly on Saturday as heavy snowfall and extreme wind wallop our fragile snowpack. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans accordingly.

Regions covered