Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Issued Mar 29, 2021valid to Mar 30, 2021Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

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Avalanche danger

Tue

Alpine

1 · Low

Treeline

1 · Low

Below

1 · Low

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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Overall LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations, however that doesn't mean that human triggered avalanches are impossible. Very strong SW winds last night and today mean that isolated small fresh Wind Slabs sensitive to a human trigger may be found on NW-NE-SE facing terrain. Warm temperatures and full sunshine will continue to keep Loose-Wet sloughs possible on E-S-W aspects as they warm, but their size and extent will be limited to small and below treeline due to the cooling effects of the very strong SW winds.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
With last night and today’s very strong SW winds, keep your eyes out for a small isolated fresh wind slab in leeward NW-NE-SE facing terrain where a fall could be consequential. Last week’s strong winds from every direction and the melt-freeze process that is underway on sunny aspects hasn’t left too much loose snow available for transport, so these small sneaky slabs will likely be more limited to the edges of more sheltered terrain at mid and lower elevations. However, you might find one on the sidewall of a gully up high as well.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
For the most part temperatures stayed above freezing last night up to 9000’, and only dropped to 40° in Virginia Lakes at 9200’. Clear overnight skies and strong SW winds however still led to a fairly solid surface refreeze, but with sunny skies and temperatures again reaching well into the 40s below tree line today, human triggered Loose-Wet slides will still be possible on steep E to N to W facing slopes as they warm, especially where sheltered from today’s continued strong SW winds at lower elevations. Even just a few inches of wet surface snow could result in consequential sloughing in steep confined terrain.