Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Some snow surface melt is expected today with wet loose avalanches unlikely but not impossible. LOW avalanche danger is expected today for all elevations. An incoming storm will bring snow and strong winds to the forecast area tonight, increasing avalanche danger tonight and tomorrow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    The amount of surface wet snow that forms today will be affected by how quickly cloud cover forms over the region and how soon increasing SW winds begin to slow snow surface melt rates.  Maximum daytime air temperatures are also forecast at a few degrees colder than yesterday which will also reduce the melt rate. Wind protected slopes with direct sun exposure, especially around exposed rocks or cliff bands will heat up the fastest today. The sun angle is getting high enough that northerly aspects with sun exposure are also starting to become affected by melt. If sufficient amounts of surface wet snow are able to form a wet loose avalanche problem today, avalanche size is unlikely to exceed D1.

    Clues to the presence of a wet loose avalanche problem include surface wet snow more than a couple of inches deep (especially without a supportable crust layer below it), rollerballs, and pinwheels. Exercise caution on or below steep slopes where these signs of instability are present.

     

Avalanche Discussion

* The upper snowpack remains transitional in many sun exposed areas with a relatively thin surface melt-freeze layer on top of recent storm snow that has yet to undergo melt. This setup can transition quickly from frozen surface to thick wet snow with little time spent in between.

* The sun angle is getting high enough that moderate slope angle N aspects are starting to undergo snow surface melt in areas without shade.

* Well shaded and wind protected N aspects continue to hold unconsolidated recent storm snow at the surface.

* Recent NE winds have scoured the snow surface near treeline and above treeline.

* The existing snowpack has not revealed signs of current problematic weak layers and is in good condition to handle new snow loading.

Regions covered