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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago.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

Avalanche danger should remain LOW for all elevations and aspects again today. Some small loose wet avalanches may become possible on isolated terrain features on slopes 37 degrees and steeper. While larger loose wet avalanches remain unlikely, they are not impossible. Use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Clear skies and slightly cooler overnight lows should have allowed a better overnight refreeze. Cooler daytime highs and light east to northeast winds should work to slow down the daytime thaw, but today's sunny skies and warm temperatures will still provide enough warmth for wet snow to form. Human triggered roller balls and pinwheels should represent the majority of the wet snow instabilities that form today, but some isolated loose wet avalanches may also become possible. In most areas these wet snow issues should remain small and not involve much snow, but a few larger loose wet avalanches may be possible on some isolated terrain features. The sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects will represent the best places to find wet snow instabilities today.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Rubicon Peak, some small skier triggered roller balls and pinwheels occurred on steep E-SE facing slopes between 8000 and 9000 ft. Farther south on Carson Pass, some skier triggered roller balls up to 12 inches occurred on sheltered S facing slopes between 8400 and 9300 ft. In both of these areas, 2 inches of wet soft snow existed above a supportable base on exposed E-SE-S aspects while more sheltered areas still held deeper, wet, sticky snow that has not transitioned all the way to corn snow.

On northerly aspects on Rubicon Peak, a frozen melt freeze crust had formed on the surface in most places with a few areas of soft cold snow remaining above 8700 ft. and some areas of wet surface snow below 8300 ft. Snow cover below 8000 ft. remains sparse on Rubicon Peak. Snowpit data indicated a strong snowpack with good bonding on the northerly aspects.

Regions covered