Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Daytime warming will again melt snow surfaces, causing wet loose avalanches on solar aspects. As temperatures rise, your best move is to transition to shady slopes with little exposure to steep, sun-baked terrain overhead. Assess for lingering unstable wind slabs before heading into steep terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Another day of sunny skies and temperatures above freezing should lead to wet snow instabilities by midday. Increasing southwest winds may limit solar warming and areas with slushy surfaces. Assess the surrounding terrain for signs of wet instability in your area. Rocky outcrops, vegetated slopes, and areas with thin snow cover will be the most likely areas for wet snow avalanches.

    Rollerballs and pinwheels are obvious precursors of Wet Loose avalanches. Sinking up to your boot-tops in slushy snow is also a bad sign. Wet Loose avalanches can entrain heavy snow that is difficult to escape from. The best way to manage Wet Loose avalanches is to travel when the snow surface is colder. Time your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the heat of the day.

    (3/8/2025)

    D1 natural wet loose avalanches and rollerballs near treeline in Half Moon Pass, south aspect.

    Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Tender wind slabs formed on all aspects through Friday. They will be less sensitive today, though the potential size of an isolated slab avalanche is worth noting. Take the time to assess for wind drifted snow before you drop into something steep.

    The most likely places to trigger wind slabs will be the leeward sides of ridgelines, confined alpine couloirs, and cross-loaded gullies. Shooting cracks in stiffer, textured surface snow means you’ve found the problem. Stick to lower-angled slopes and sheltered terrain to limit your exposure.

    (3/7/2025)

    The flank of an intentionally triggered wind slab avalanche. 

    Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Many small wet loose avalanches–and a few larger ones–ran on solar slopes yesterday. Friday, forecasters found sensitive wind slabs near treeline in the June Lake Backcountry.

Up to a foot of snow from early March sits atop a melt-freeze crust in most places. Under that crust are either rounded grains at lower elevations and on solar aspects, or sugary facets on northerly slopes. In isolated areas, it rests directly on weak facets. Surface snow has gone through a freeze-thaw cycle on sunny slopes. Sheltered, northerly terrain still has dry snow.

Regions covered