Central Sierra Nevada

Cold, windy weather will keep most slopes frozen today, and limited amounts of soft snow will keep blowing snow from piling up. Avalanches are unlikely. Look for places and conditions that are a good fit for your group's skills and goals.

Normal caution

Strong E and NE winds will continue today, and air temperatures will remain cold. Expect the snow surface to stay firm and frozen in most places today. If any softening does occur, it would be minor, short-lived, and only happen on a few of the sunniest, most sheltered, low-elevation southerly aspects. The strong E and NE winds may continue to move snow near some ridgelines, but not enough to form problematic wind slabs. The combination of cooler weather and limited blowing snow accumulation means avalanche activity remains unlikely. 

Talk with your partners and make travel plans targetting terrain and conditions that match your group's skills and goals. Even though the avalanche danger is LOW, move in ways that minimize exposure to avalanche hazards like traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones out of avalanche terrain and runout zones.

Recent Observations:

•  Blowing snow was reported along the Sierra Crest yesterday.
• Variable snow surface conditions exist across the forecast area including firm ice, shallow unconsolidated snow, wind-packed surfaces, wind-scoured surfaces, breakable crusts, and spring-like melt/freeze snow.
• Some faceting has begun to occur in the upper snowpack in some areas on northerly aspects. Otherwise, the existing snowpack is well consolidated.
• Large cornices exist along many ridgelines. Some of these have deep fissures behind them where they have pulled away from the ridges.