Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong winds along with snow later today will create slabs of wind blown snow in open areas.  Warmer temperatures with lower elevation rain could create more wet snow instabilities.  Look for where unstable snow may exist and carefully move around these areas of concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong to gale force South winds today will transport snow and form new wind slabs in near and above treeline areas.  These wind slabs will form in areas where snow is available for wind transport.  Later today and tonight as the storm moves in, more snow will be available for wind transport creating larger wind slabs.

    Look for blowing snow, new cornice formation, and wind pillows as clues to where these wind slabs are forming.  Wind exposed open slopes, below ridges, and in gully features will be common locations for wind slabs to exist. 

    (2/15/2024)

    A natural cornice fall had triggered a small wind slab avalanche on Talking Mtn.

    Photo: SAC

  • Loose Wet

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

    Surface snow yesterday became wetted on many aspects below 8500'.  Overnight temperatures were warm with cloud cover and today will be another day of above freezing temperatures.  More wet snow development and instabilities are expected to occur today.  In addition, light rain up to around 7000' may increase later this afternoon adding to the wet snow avalanche problem.  Wet loose avalanches could occur on any aspect and be larger in size today.

    Roller balls and pinwheels will be indicators that the surface snow is losing strength and that larger wet loose avalanches could become possible.  Areas of deep wet snow on steep slopes will be where these wet loose avalanches could occur.      

    (2/16/2024)

    Natural loose wet activity on a steep SE facing slope.  Maggies Peak.

Avalanche Discussion

A large winter storm is expected to enter our area starting Sunday night and continuing into Wednesday of next week.  This storm has the potential for several inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) and multiple feet of snow.  Recent observations still show some potential for a deep slab avalanche problem to occur on the eastern side of the forecast region in areas where a shallow and weak snowpack still exist. 

Regions covered