Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Strong March sunshine and warmer temperatures will create unstable wet snow as daytime warming occurs.  Lingering slabs of wind-blown snow could also be a concern for backcountry users today along ridges, in gully features, and open areas.  Identify where unstable snow exists and move around these areas of concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Increased cloud cover on Monday limited wet snow instabilities throughout the forecast region.  Warming temperatures today with strong late March sunshine will create wet snow instabilities as clouds decrease this morning.  Wet loose avalanches are expected to occur throughout the forecast region on most aspects and elevations due to the high late March sun angles.  Many of these wet snow instabilities will be small in size, but larger wet loose avalanches could also run long distances on steeper slopes entraining more of the recent storm snow.  Terrain traps such as cliffs, rocks, and trees-could increase the consequences of even small wet loose avalanches today.

    Roller balls and pinwheels may be indicators that the surface snow is becoming wet and capable of producing larger avalanches.  As the snow becomes deep and wet, it’s time to move away from avalanche terrain or change aspects to where colder snow exists.

    (3/23/2024)

    Skier triggered D1 loose wet avalanche that entrained quite a bit of snow on the shoulder of Trestle Peak, Donner Summit area.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    West winds continue to be strong enough to transport snow in some areas of the forecast region.  Reactive wind slabs continue to exist in some of these near and above treeline areas.  Some wind slab avalanches that have been triggered may have been failing on a buried layer of graupel within the recent storm snow.  This graupel layer would explain the continued reactivity and wide propagation of some of these wind slab avalanches.  Wide propagating wind slab avalanches could remain possible for today.  Rapid warming with expected strong late March sunshine could also weaken wind slabs that are receiving intense solar radiation today.

    Look for blowing snow, snow surface clues, and cornices above a slope as clues to where these wind slabs have formed.  Large cornices that have built out during the storm could become weak and fail with warming today.  Identify and move around wind loaded areas and slopes below large cornices.  

    (3/25/2024)

    Rider triggered slide on Becker, likely from today. The length of the looker's left flank is impressive.  Echo Lakes area.

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

Regions covered