Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Near and above treeline pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger still exist on wind loaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects due to lingering wind slabs. In wind protected areas below treeline and in wind scoured areas near and above treeline, avalanche danger remains LOW.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Wind slabs still exist on on the leeward NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. In many places these wind slabs remain relatively small. Increasing bond strength between the wind slabs and the old snow below them should make triggering these slabs more difficult today in most places. However, human triggered avalanches resulting from the failure of these wind slabs will remain possible in the most heavily wind loaded areas that received the most snow on Saturday night. Wind slabs 1-2 ft in depth could exist in those areas. Complex and/or extreme terrain including "cliffy" areas, unsupported slopes, couliors, etc represent the most likely places to find these pockets of larger more fragile wind slabs, but they could linger on other near and above treeline wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects or cross-loaded NW and SE aspects as well.

Avalanche Discussion

A skier triggered an avalanche on a N-NE aspect at about 9600 ft. on Red Lake Peak yesterday. The reporting party saw it from a distance and could not ascertain specific details concerning this slide. It did occur in complex, steep terrain that commonly experiences wind loading and looked to be about 100 ft wide. As more details come in we will post them in the observations section. 

Farther north on Castle Peak wind slabs up to 16 inches in depth did exist on the most heavily wind loaded NW-N-NE aspects. Ski cuts on wind loaded test slopes, snowpit tests, and general observations in this area showed that good bonding seemed to exist between the wind slabs and the rain crusts below. In the Castle Peak area the snowpack below the thick, strong, and now very supportable rain crust consists of wet snow that continues to consolidate. 

Regions covered