Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 10 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will remain LOW today. As the day warms up, some small loose wet snow instabilities may still form on isolated terrain features below 8500 ft. on sun-exposed aspects, on slopes where wet snow exists on top of drier snow, or on slopes that receive rain today. Use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Despite a weak overnight refreeze, cloudy skies, increased winds, slightly cooler temperatures, and the fact that the snowpack has been through a prolonged melt-freeze cycle should limit the formation of wet snow instabilities today. Some small isolated loose wet snow instabilities like roller balls, pinwheels, and the occasional point release may still form on isolated terrain features below 8500 ft. East and west facing slopes where wet snow forms above drier snow will represent the most likely places for some loose wet snow instabilities to form, but they could occur on isolated sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects or even on some low elevation isolated northerly aspects as well. If any slopes receive rain today loose wet instabilities could also form on those slopes. Again, any wet snow instabilities that do form today should remain small and isolated and only occur on specific terrain features. Larger more problematic wet snow issues will remain unlikely today.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations showed corn snow conditions on the SE-S-SW aspects of Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) and in the Third Creek drainage (Mt. Rose backcountry). In both of these areas, 2 to 4 inches of soft wet corn snow existed above a supportable melt-freeze crust by mid-morning and lasted through the afternoon on the exposed upper elevation slopes. At the lower elevations deeper unsupportable wet snow existed. Observations on the northerly aspects of Castle Peak and in the Third Creek area showed a mix of surface conditions ranging from some wet snow at the lower elevations to breakable crusts, firm surfaces, and colder drier snow above 8000 ft. Snowpit tests did not show any signs of instability on these slopes.

Regions covered