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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Out of date — this forecast expired 11 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

This morning the avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Some pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form below 9000 ft. on sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects steeper than 35 degrees as the day warms up, and some small loose wet snow instabilities become possible. The amount of warming that actually occurs today will dictate how widespread these possible wet snow instabilities may be. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Any wet snow that formed yesterday should have refrozen last night. This solid refreeze, the fact that the snow has now undergone repeated melting and refreezing, the possibility of some increased afternoon cloud cover, and the low sun angles of Feb. should mean that wet snow instabilities will be smaller and more isolated today. Today's warmer temperatures and mostly clear skies could still cause enough warming for some loose wet snow instabilities to form on the sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects.  Small pinwheels, roller balls, and point release avalanches (sluffs) should represent the majority of the loose wet instabilities, but a few could entrain enough snow to cause issues for backcountry travelers in isolated areas or extreme terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

Observations from Incline Lake Peak and Deep Creek showed a well bonded snowpack with 10 to 14 inches of soft snow sitting above a thick firm rain crust on sheltered northerly aspects in near and below treeline terrain. On more exposed near and above treeline terrain wind scoured surfaces, firm wind slabs, icy crusts, and other wind sculpted features existed on the snow surface. On more sun exposed southerly aspects in the Incline Lake Peak and Rose Knob area some old loose wet point releases existed, and at least one skier triggered loose wet point release occurred between 10 am and 2 pm yesterday on a sun-exposed SE aspect at 8600 ft. in the 3rd Creek drainage. 

Regions covered