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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Remember areas of unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features during LOW danger. Small wind slabs may exist in extreme terrain. Loose wet snow instability will remain unlikely unless the temperatures climb higher than forecast and/or the cold east winds decrease.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Some small winds may exist on the SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects in exposed areas above treeline. These wind slabs should remain shallow and should not extend very far away from the ridgelines do to the small amounts of soft snow available for transport. In most areas they should not cause problems for backcountry travelers; however, terrain such as areas above cliff bands and and other terrain traps could magnify the consequences of a small avalanche.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Cool temperatures and strong cold east winds should prevent any large loose wet snow instabilities from forming today. Some lower elevation sun-exposed southerly slopes may experience minor softening. If the winds decrease sooner than expected and/or temperatures climb higher than expected some loose wet instabilities may form on the SE-S-SW aspects especially in areas where soft snow or new wind deposited snow currently exists. This problem will re-surface tomorrow as temperatures climb and the winds decrease.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Ralston Ridge and Incline Lake Peak the strong E and NE winds moved snow from the previously wind loaded N-NE-E aspects towards the S-SW-W aspects. However, this moving snow did not form significant deposits on those aspects. On the S-SW-W aspects of Incline Lake Peak the deepest areas of wind loaded snow only measured about 3 inches, and these only existed in small patches. The strong winds did scour the exposed N-NE-E aspects back to firm rain crusts in both the Ralston area and on Incline Lake Peak. Plumes of blowing snow were also visible along the Sierra Crest during the day yesterday.

Below treeline on more sheltered slopes 2-3 inches of soft snow existed above a firm supportable crust on the northerly aspects on Incline Lake Peak. On the more southerly aspects the snow surface remained hard and frozen at all elevations on Incline Lake Peak and supportable and mostly frozen on Ralston.

Regions covered