Central Sierra Nevada

Avalanche activity remains unlikely at this time. Best practice, normal caution techniques for travel in backcountry avalanche terrain are advised.  Expect variable snow surface conditions and plenty of opportunities to encounter obstacles in the shallow snowpack.

The change of note over the past 24 hours is the development of moderate speed ridgetop winds out of the NE. Very little snow is available for drifting at and above treeline. While some areas with minor amounts of blowing and drifting snow might have occurred, problematic new wind slab formation is not expected. Triggering an avalanche remains an unlikely event. Best practice travel techniques associated with normal caution for travel in avalanche terrain are the way to go for maintaining a margin of safety against an unexpected avalanche.

Above 7,200' to 7,500', many parts of the forecast area hold 2 to 3 feet of snow across NW-N-NE-E aspects. There is generally more snow in the northern Sierra Crest portion of the forecast area than in the southern or eastern portions of the forecast area. Melt-freeze conditions have occurred on sun exposed slopes. Cold soft snow lingers on shaded slopes. Surface hoar is widespread, especially low on the peaks where cold air pools overnight. Expect this surface hoar to be destroyed and reformed several more times before the next snowfall event.

The common theme in snowpack structure across the forecast area is a strong mid-pack and weaker snow near the surface. There are some currently unreactive weak layers to keep an eye on. In the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area above about 8,500', a dormant weak layer of faceted snow/depth hoar lingers near the ground across NW-N-NE-E aspects. On most shaded slopes throughout the forecast area, weak faceted snow exists at the snow surface that is worth monitoring leading up to the next snowfall.