Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wet snow is expected to form today with sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and lighter winds.  In areas that received the most snow from last weekend's storm in the eastern and southern portions of the forecast region, wet loose instabilities will be possible today with MODERATE avalanche danger.  In the vast majority of the forecast area that received limited new snow, LOW avalanche danger will exist today with minor wet snow instabilities expected.  Use caution today if traveling in areas where the surface snow becomes deep and wet.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and lighter winds from the W vs. NE, will all lead to more wet snow development on sunny slopes today.  Where recent snow exists from our last storm in the eastern and southern portions of the forecast region, wet loose avalanches will be possible.  This recent storm snow exists on top of firm crusts on E-S-W aspects and has a good bed surface to slide on as daytime warming occurs.  Wind protected below treeline terrain, cross loaded gully features, areas below ridges, and open sunny slopes could all produce wet loose avalanches that involve most or all of the recent storm snow. 

    In areas that received little to no recent snow last weekend, the avalanche danger will remain LOW.  These areas have established surface crusts with a mostly good overnight refreeze of the snowpack under clear skies.  Any wet snow instabilities are expected to be limited in these areas. 

    As daytime warming occurs, the recent storm snow could become deep and wet.  Roller balls and pinwheels could be indications that larger wet loose avalanches could become possible.   

Avalanche Discussion

Snow surface conditions vary greatly throughout the forecast region.  Firm rain crusts, wind scoured surfaces, refrozen tracks, and ice can be found in wind exposed near treeline and above treeline areas.  Sliding falls and runaway equipment/snowmobiles are a real concern on steep slopes in exposed terrain.  In more wind protected below treeline areas,  weak faceted soft snow can be found on northerly aspects.  In the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area, last weekend's storm deposited up to 12 inches of snow.  In the majority of other areas in the forecast region, little or no new snow fell with no change in snow surface conditions.  

Regions covered