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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago.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 will remain LOW for all elevations and aspects today. Even though the avalanche danger will remain low today, other hazards including icy conditions on some exposed near and above treeline slopes where arresting a fall would be difficult and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles remain. Continue to use caution and practice safe travel habits when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Avalanche activity remains unlikely today. The west and southwest winds that transported some snow yesterday should continue today, but even less snow will remain available for transport. This lack of available snow means that any wind slabs that have formed or that will form today should remain too small, shallow, and isolated to cause significant problems for backcountry travelers.

    Even though the avalanche danger will remain low today, other hazards including icy conditions on which arresting a fall would be difficult and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles remain. Continue to use caution and practice safe travel habits when traveling in the backcountry.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations from Ellis Peak yesterday and other areas around the forecast region this week have not revealed any significant signs of instabilities. On northerly slopes sheltered from the north and east winds, a few inches of soft, unconsolidated snow exist on top of a supportable crust. In areas exposed to the north and east winds, previous wind scouring has uncovered vast areas of icy crusts. Conditions on the more southerly facing slopes remain variable and include wind packed snow, crusts, and some consolidated surface snow. Below the surface snowpit data continues to hint at a weak layer beginning to form around the supportable rain crust.

Regions covered