Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger will exist today at all elevations. As last night's snow surface refreeze melts away, loose wet avalanches will become possible. When snow surface conditions become marginally unsupportable to unsupportable, avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    A good snow surface refreeze is expected to have occurred last night with clear skies and below freezing air temperatures above 7,000'. Continued SW winds may slow the snow surface melt rate today in wind exposed areas above treeline. With maximum daytime air temperatures in the 40s and 50s today, the supportable snow surface will eventually melt away. This will expose feet of residual wet snow deeper in the snowpack that did not refreeze last night. Once last night's snow surface refreeze has melted away, loose wet avalanches are possible.

    Areas of loose wet avalanche problems will occur mainly on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations. Wet snow instability will eventually spread to NW-N-NE aspects during the afternoon hours and to a lesser extent on the highest elevation N aspects. Avalanche size up to D2 is possible (large enough to bury or injure a person). Monitor snow surface supportability. When last night's snow surface refreeze melts away and conditions become marginally unsupportable to unsupportable, avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

* The recent storm system from the evening of March 5th into March 7th brought 2 to 6 inches of rain to the forecast area with snow levels at 11,000' to 12,000' for most of the event.

* Observations made yesterday afternoon on Tamarack Peak (Mount Rose area) revealed below freezing air temperatures and refreezing snow surface conditions on top of several feet of wet snow. New snow amounts of 1 to 2 cm had fallen above 9,700' at the very tail end of the storm.

Regions covered