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Out of date — this forecast expired 11 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche danger should remain LOW for all elevations and aspects today. Some shallow, small, isolated wind deposits or loose wet snow instabilities that do not entrain enough snow to do much more than knock a person off balance might exist on some isolated terrain features steeper than 35 degrees. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Yesterday's snow and rain did little to change the state of the snowpack. The new snow accumulation did not provide enough material to form significant slabs on top of the old snow surfaces. East winds today may scour snow away from any of the small wind deposits that formed yesterday, but they should not form significant wind slabs on the leeward aspects due to the minimal snow amounts available for transport. A few small, shallow wind deposited drifts may form or linger near ridge lines.

    The rain did melt some snow and create wet snow in many areas below 8000 ft, but it should have started to refreeze last night after the storm ended. This refreeze should melt today due to warmer temperatures and March sunshine and wet surface snow will return to the E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Some minor loose wet snow instabilities like roller balls, pinwheels, and small isolated loose wet snow sluffs may occur on steep sun-exposed aspects today.  Any of the instabilities that might form today would remain small and isolated and should not involve enough snow to bury a person, but they could push someone off course or knock a person over.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday on Tamarack Peak, a crust existed on all aspects underneath 1 inch of new snow. On the northerly aspects this crust was thin and breakable and likely formed due to high elevation rain at the start of yesterday's small storm. Snowpit tests indicated a stable and strong snowpack that continues to consolidate and form bonds between its layers. In areas that typically experience heavy wind loading, wind deposited snow up to 2 inches in depth existed. Snow level in this area seemed to fluctuate between 8000 and 8500 ft. during the day.

Regions covered