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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger should remain LOW for all aspects and elevations today. Use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Night time temperatures near and in some cases below freezing combined with clear skis have allowed the snowpack to release enough heat into the atmosphere to continue to refreeze. Expect firm crusts all aspects this morning. On the northerly aspects and in shaded areas, these crusts should remain frozen all day. On the more sun exposed slopes, some softening may occur as the sun heats up the snow surface. The combination of limited sun-exposure, low sun angles, continued north and east winds, and an additional melt freeze cycle should prevent any serious wet snow instabilities from forming today. Recent data from around the forecast area continues to indicate a consolidating snowpack.

    Even though the avalanche danger may remain low today, other hazards including the icy conditions and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles remain. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations on Rubicon confirmed that snow coverage remains limited below 8000 ft. and that below 7500 ft. only patchy discontinuous coverage exists. Above 8000 ft. on NW-N-NE aspects, a firm, icy, and mostly supportable rain crust existed above a moist snowpack that reached about 4 ft. in depth by 9000 ft. Some softening did occur on the E-SE aspects between 8800 ft. and 8000 ft. allowing wet, sticky snow to form on the surface. These aspects started to refreeze as soon as the sun left them.

Regions covered