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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago.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 should remain LOW for all elevations and aspects today. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

A winter storm expected to impact the region starting tonight will cause the avalanche danger to increase tonight and tomorrow as new snow and wind affect the area.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Increasing cloud cover and cooler daytime time temperatures should limit the amount of melting and softening that occurs today. Some corn conditions may form on the most sun-exposed mid to low elevation southerly aspects or on slopes that receive rain this afternoon, but wet snow instabilities should remain unlikely today.

    As new snow and wind impact the forecast area tonight and tomorrow, wind slabs and storm slabs will form on top of the snowpack. These avalanche problems will cause the avalanche danger to increase. Natural and human triggered avalanches resulting from these new avalanche problems could become possible by tomorrow. After 2 weeks of stable melt-freeze conditions, a few days of winter will be exciting. Remember not to let that excitement override good judgment.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday up to 3 inches of soft corn snow existed above a supportable snowpack consisting of mostly melt-freeze snow on the sun exposed southerly aspects on Chickadee Ridge (Mt. Rose backcountry) by 11 am. No signs of wet snow instabilities were noted in this area. The northerly aspects remained frozen and exhibited no signs of instability.

Regions covered