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

MODERATE avalanche danger still exists at all elevations due to a combination of new and old wind slabs and some potential loose dry avalanches. Human triggered avalanches remain possible today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wind-loading resulting from the NE winds over the last 24 hours has allowed new wind slabs to form on some SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects. Many of these should remain small, but some larger ones could have formed in the most heavily wind-loaded areas. In addition to these new wind slabs, some larger wind slabs and fragile cornices may still linger on some of the NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects that were loaded by previous SW winds and not too scoured by the NE winds. Overall expect variable wind affected conditions in near and above treeline terrain with human-triggered wind slabs possible on any aspect. 

    Blowing snow, new and old cornices, wind pillows, scoured surfaces, and other wind created surface textures can help identify where wind slabs may exist. More sheltered terrain should hold softer snow conditions with fewer chances for finding fragile wind slabs or firm wind scoured surfaces.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    While storm slab avalanche activity has become unlikely, some human-triggered loose dry avalanche activity could remain possible on steep sheltered slopes where the snow remains cold and dry. These should remain small but could cause some problems in more complex or extreme terrain where getting knocked off balance could have serious consequences.

Avalanche Discussion

* A small skier-triggered wind slab failed on a test slope on a SE aspect near the summit of Incline Lake Peak. Another party reported signs of reactive wind slabs in the Granite Chief Wilderness.

* Observers reported evidence of light NE wind scouring and transport near ridgelines on Donner Summit, on the East Shore, near Yuba Pass, in the Mt. Rose backcountry, and between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass. Large cornices also still lingered above slopes loaded by SW winds. Ski kicks could easily break these cornices in the Yuba Pass area.

* In more sheltered terrain in all of these areas, no signs of slab instabilities were reported and signs of settlement and consolidation existed. Some surface hoar had formed on open sheltered slopes in the Yuba Pass area, on Rubicon Peak, on Schallenberger Ridge, and in Johnson Canyon. 

* Some skier triggered loose dry sluffs occurred on steep terrain on Herlan Peak and in the Yuba Pass area.

* Observers reported small sun-crusts forming on sun-exposed southerly slopes in the Yuba Pass area and some sun affected snow on Herlan Peak by yesterday afternoon.  

Regions covered