Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Frozen conditions early this morning will give way to wet snow as daytime warming progresses. Watch out for areas of unsupportable and potentially unstable wet snow to develop. If conditions become unsupportable or deep wet snow is encountered, consider exiting avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    A decent to strong overnight snow surface refreeze is expected to have occurred last night with clearing skies and near to below freezing air temperatures.  The supportable melt-freeze surface crust that exists this morning will melt away exposing deeper residual wet snow as daytime warming progresses.  Once the surface crust has melted enough to become unsupportable, the potential for a wet snow avalanche increases.

    Look for signs of unstable wet snow including roller balls, pinwheels, wet loose avalanches, or deep unsupportable wet snow.  Consider exiting areas that are in or below avalanche terrain when any of these signs of unstable wet snow are present.

Avalanche Discussion

  • Snowmelt has intensified across all aspects and elevations throughout the forecast area.  SE-S-SW aspects have exposed bare ground in many areas that limit over snow travel options.
  • There is an increasing number of open creeks and areas of running water.

Regions covered