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Out of date — this forecast expired 11 years ago.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

LOW avalanche danger exists on on all aspects and elevations. LOW danger means that avalanches are unlikely, not impossible. Some unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features especially in complex or extreme terrain where the recent N-NE winds did not scour away previous wind slabs. Continue to use caution when travelling in the backcountry.

It early season and numerous exposed or barely covered season-ending obstacles exist. While the avalanche danger has decreased, these hazards remain.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    While most data indicates that avalanche activity has become unlikely and that the snowpack continues to settle and consolidate, some isolated areas of unstable snow may still exist. A few small isolated wind slabs may still linger in complex or extreme terrain where the recent N-NE winds did reach or in areas where the snowpack sits on an unsupported slope. These areas could include those tempting filled-in looking couliors or hanging snowfields with cliffs below them. Keep in mind that after the recent winds, if a near treeline or above treeline area looks nicely filled in, wind slabs likely exist in that area.

    The weak sugary layers of snow (facets) below the surface on northerly aspects represent the other lingering issue. Like those small isolated wind slabs, avalanche activity involving these layers has become unlikely but not impossible. Still these layers bear watching as they could reactivate later on. Getting a good handle on where these layers exist now will make for more informed decision making when more snow arrives in the mountains. 

    It is still early season and numerous exposed or barely covered rocks, stumps, and other season-ending obstacles exist out there. Even though the avalanche danger has decreased, these hazards remain. 

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations from Chickadee Ridge in the Mt. Rose backcountry and Red Lake Peak near Carson Pass showed continued settlement and consolidation in the snowpack. On Red Lake Peak previous N-NE winds had scoured many of the traditionally wind loaded N-NE-E aspects near ridgelines and redeposited that snow onto more southwesterly aspects. The wind slabs formed by this wind loading remained small and shallow and did not extend very far down slope. Data collected from northerly aspects on Red Lake Peak and on Chickadee Ridge continues to reveal layers of weaker more sugary snow (facets) in the bottom half of the snowpack. 

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