Central Sierra Nevada

Cloud cover will once again determine how much snow surface melt occurs today and will likely vary from one location to another around the forecast area. While a few wet snow roller balls or pinwheels are possible, avalanches remain unlikely at this time. 

Normal caution

Similar to yesterday, cloud cover will be the major determining factor in how much surface wet snow forms today on SE-S-SW aspects.  Cloud cover is expected to vary throughout the day and from one location to another throughout the forecast area. Some slopes will soften while others may have periods of delayed melt, slowed melt, or remain frozen all day. The amount of warming and wet snow formation today shouldn't allow for much more than small roller balls or pinwheels. Problematic avalanche activity remains unlikely. While it may feel like spring, the days are still short, the sun angle is still low, and the amount of incoming solar radiation remains relatively weak.

As for any backcountry day LOW avalanche danger or not, talk with your partners to understand your group's skills and goals. Create a travel plan focused on terrain and conditions that represent a good fit for those skills and goals. Travel in ways that minimize exposure to avalanche hazards such as traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones out of avalanche terrain and runout zones.

Recent Observations:

* Variable snow surface conditions exist across the forecast area including firm ice, shallow unconsolidated snow, wind-packed surfaces, wind-scoured surfaces, breakable crusts, and spring-like melt/freeze snow.

* Some faceting has begun to occur in the upper snowpack in some areas on northerly aspects. Otherwise, the existing snowpack is well consolidated.

* Large cornices exist along many ridgelines. Some of these have deep fissures behind them where they have pulled away from the ridgetop.