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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

For now, collisions with exposed and barely covered obstacles and challenging travel conditions resulting from variable snow surfaces still represent the main concern in the backcountry. Travel using normal caution. The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    More wind today and tonight should not form snowdrifts since very little soft snow exists to blow around. However, this wind will continue to sculpt the snow in exposed areas. The uneven and variable snow surfaces and an ever-increasing number of rocks, stumps, logs, and other obstacles make backcountry travel difficult. Falls and collisions with these obstacles could damage equipment and injure people. Moving at slower speeds on more mellow terrain and being observant can make avoiding obstacles easier and snow travel more fun. With snow forecasted to return soon, it would be a terrible time to get injured.

Avalanche Discussion

* A mostly supportable snowpack 1-2 ft. deep exists on northerly aspects above 8600 ft. in the Mt. Rose area, above 7000 ft. along the northern Sierra Crest, and above 8000 ft. along the southern Sierra Crest. 

* The snow surface varies widely with wind-scoured and sculpted surfaces in exposed near and above treeline terrain. More sheltered areas hold a mix of firm melt-freeze snow, breakable crusts, and some areas of soft surface snow (near-surface facets) on sheltered northerly aspects. The near and below treeline northerly aspects hold the most snow. Significant snow-melt has occurred on the southerly aspects leaving exposed ground on many of these slopes.

* Since our last storm on Nov. 18, mostly clear skies, long cold nights, and low sun angles have allowed a layer of weak sugary snow (near-surface facets) to form on sheltered northerly aspects. Depending on how much snow accumulates on top of this potential weak layer during the upcoming storms, it may fail and avalanche activity could result. 

Regions covered