Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches big enough to bury you are likely where the wind has drifted the most new snow. Recent avalanches, collapsing, and shooting cracks are all red flags. Approach terrain conservatively and have options with low slope angles to avoid getting caught. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    South-southwest winds have been drifting low-density new snow onto leeward terrain, where the old surface has formed a fragile interface under the new slabs. You could trigger large avalanches below ridges, convex rolls, and in gullies. They could catch you off guard, breaking wider than you’d expect. You could trigger them from flatter terrain below start zones or from adjacent slopes. Recent natural avalanches, collapsing and shooting cracks in wind-blown snow are the most obvious signs of instability. Seek low-angled terrain and avoid steep slopes with drifted snow.

    (2/10/2026) Photo: Clancy Nelson

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Where the most new snow has accumulated, near the Crest and between Mammoth and June, soft slabs have likely formed atop old weak snow and hard crusts. If you see signs of instability, like recent avalanches, collapsing or shooting cracks, take a step back from steep terrain. Loose snow avalanches could also be common. Don’t underestimate sluffs that can run fast and far. Terrain traps like creek beds and gullies can allow debris to pile up, increasing the consequences of being pushed downhill by even loose snow avalanches. 

    (2/10/2026)

    Small, deliberately triggered loose dry avalanche. Northeast, 9500 ft., below treeline. Mammoth Area.

    Photo: Clancy Nelson

Avalanche Discussion

The avalanche danger rose yesterday as the first storm in a month covered the weak old snow surface. People triggered loose dry, and soft slab avalanches in the Mammoth area; at least one was triggered remotely. Stability deteriorated overnight due to heavy snow and strong winds. Snowfall and wind continue to load weak old snow through this afternoon. The hazard will be slower to fall than you’d typically expect. 

Before this storm, surfaces varied by aspect and elevation. Melt-freeze crusts covered what little snow there was on southerly aspects. The lowest elevations were also predominantly crusty. On north-facing slopes, impressive near-surface facets developed. There’s a thin layer of these troublesome snow grains atop old wind board in the alpine. The weak layer is almost a foot thick in wind-protected areas. Where the most new snow has accumulated on the old surface, avalanches may be surprisingly sensitive. 

Weak facet/crust combos and depth hoar buried earlier this winter rest midpack and near the ground, especially south of Mammoth and north of June, where the snowpack is shallower. Where larger wind slabs have developed, deeper weak layers could become a concern for step-down avalanches in big terrain.

As the storm begins to clear, it’ll be easy to get excited about the first good riding conditions in a long time. Approach terrain critically and conservatively. The safest move is to shift your mindset to match the conditions. 

Regions covered