Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Warm weather and strong sun could provide enough warming for wet snow to move downhill on sunny slopes today. When you notice signs of wet snow such as rollerballs, pinwheels, or wet loose avalanches, it is time to move to slopes not steep enough for snow to slide downhill. Some areas of unstable wind-drifted snow may still exist on open slopes near ridges in the Donner Summit area. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    A return to sunny warm weather today could provide enough warming for wet snow to form as the day warms up. The E-SE-S-SW-W facing slopes should experience the most warming, but some wet snow could even form on more northerly aspects due to the high sun angles at this time of year. Gullies and areas near sunny rocks or trees will warm up the fastest followed by open sun-exposed slopes. Wet loose avalanches will be possible today, especially in areas where new snow fell yesterday. Wet loose avalanches gather more snow as they move downhill, so long steep slopes can produce larger wet loose avalanches.

    Look for signs of wet snow as you travel. When you start to see rollerballs, pinwheels, or other signs of wet snow, it is time to move into lower-angle terrain or areas where the snow has not warmed up.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Some small wind slabs may linger in the Donner Summit area where more snow accumulated than forecasted yesterday.  Most of these slabs of wind-drifted snow remain small and do not extend very far from the ridges, but some larger ones may exist in the most heavily wind-loaded places.

    This problem should not exist in most of the rest of the forecast area where little to no new snow accumulated yesterday. 

    Wind-drifted snow near ridges, cornices above a slope, and cracking in the wind-blown snow can all indicate the presence of wind slabs. Move around these areas with caution. 

Avalanche Discussion

  • Some small wind slabs existed in the Castle Peak area yesterday where more snow accumulated than forecasted. These did not extend very far from ridges. Ski kicks would cause them to crack on some wind-loaded test slopes. 
  • Snowmelt on SE-S-SW aspects has exposed bare ground in many areas. Over snow travel options are limited on these aspects.
  • We are continuing to monitor the old near surface facet layer that was buried on Feb 14. There appear to be isolated pockets in well shaded areas on NW-N-NE aspects where this layer may still be able to collapse and propagate once a new snow load or rain is added. 

Regions covered