Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Despite the NE winds, sluffs of wet loose snow may still become possible on steep slopes as the day warms up especially in areas where more snow accumulated during the recent storm. In places with less storm snow or where the storm snow already melted, wet snow instabilities should remain limited. Avalanche danger will start out LOW this morning while the snow surface remains frozen and increase to MODERATE once wet snow develops.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Cool temperatures, clear skies, and strong NE winds overnight should have allowed for a solid refreeze. Today's sun and above freezing temperatures should provide enough warming for sluffs of wet loose snow that involve the recent snow to become possible. However, the NE winds combined with the fact that daytime highs are not that warm should prevent the older melt-freeze snow below the recent snow from getting too wet. In areas where the recent snow has melted away or where only a few inches of recent snow exists, wet snow instabilities should remain small. In places where more snow accumulated earlier this week like the Mt. Rose area, larger wet loose avalanches could still occur on long steep slopes. Terrain traps like gullies, creekbeds, cliffs, etc. can also cause problems since they can make small avalanches have bigger consequences.

    Signs of wet snow instability include pinwheels, rollerballs, wet sticky snow, and sluffs of wet loose snow. As soon as any signs of wet snow instabilities exist, it is time to find an aspect where the snow remains cold or move to low angle slopes without steep slopes above.

Avalanche Discussion

* Variable amounts of recent snow exist on top of old melt-freeze snow across the region. In areas that got the least amount of storm snow, it has melted or transitioned to melt-freeze snow. In areas where more than a couple of inches of storm snow existed, it has not fully transitioned. The recent snow in these areas quickly becomes wet and sticky as it warms up. The Mt. Rose area has the most storm snow and will take the longest to transition. Most areas along the Sierra Crest only had a few inches of storm snow and will melt/transition faster. 

* Variable firm surfaces exist in the mornings. Many areas become soft and wet in the afternoons. Some areas also hold breakable crusts over colder snow. NE wind scoured surfaces exist near many ridgelines.

Regions covered