Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Human triggered Loose-Wet sloughs will again become possible today on steep slopes that warm excessively from sunshine and rising temperatures. Avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE progressively on E to S to W facing slopes at all elevations throughout the day, and N aspects at lower elevations. Time your travels wisely!

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Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Clear overnight skies and below-freezing temperatures even at lower elevations led to another good refreeze of the snow surface last night.  Mostly sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the mid 40s around 10,000’ will melt the surface and produce similar loose-wet avalanche conditions to what we have seen in previous days. Partly cloudy skies developing later in the day could limit the extent of some slope warming, particularly on upper elevation S to SW aspects. Pay attention to local conditions and how wet the upper snowpack is becoming. Even a relatively thin layer of wet surface snow can lead to consequential slides on steep slopes, especially if they funnel thru a couloir or gully feature or end in a depression. Keep uphill or out of the way of your or other people's slough! Deeper less supportable wet snow can be even more dangerous, so time your ascents and descents before this happens. It’s better to think about a turn-around point in terms of snow conditions rather than a summit or ridgetop.           

Avalanche Discussion

Unless you are skiing a westerly or northerly facing upper elevation slope, start your day EARLY!  Crampons and ice axes/whippets are often essential for travel before slopes soften.  For longer objectives, keep in mind the slopes you’ll have to travel on to exit.  Those lower elevation manky wet slopes could present more hazard, both in terms of Loose-Wet slides and challenging knee-tweaking condition, than the steeper line up high that you are excited to ride at the perfect time.      

Open slopes are quite different than treed slopes, as tree cover can keep in warmth during the night and provide shade during the day. Depending on aspect, snow can either be softer or harder under the trees.  So many variables!

Much cooler temps and increasing clouds on Tuesday and Wednesday will limit the Loose-Wet sloughing potential that we have been seeing consitently over the past weeks.

Recent Observations

-4/11 – Crowley – Nevahbe Ridge: Weather and snow conditions.

-4/11 – Mammoth Lakes Basin – TJ Bowl: Conditions.

-4/11 – June – Negatives: Conditions.

-4/10 – Backside of June Mtn / Negatives: Small loose-wet slide and snow warming.

-4/10 – June – Mount Wood: Snow conditions.

Regions covered