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Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW on snow covered NW-N-NE-E aspects. Overall, triggering an avalanche has become unlikely, but a few small areas of unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features. The avalanche danger on SE-S-SW-W aspects remains nonexistent due to a lack of snow. Brandon will update the advisory by Tuesday at 7am.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely. Data and observations from around the region indicate that even though the snowpack contains buried persistent weak layers, it can support itself and people recreating on top of the snow. Some variation still exists in day to day observations, and a few isolated results indicating instability still continue. Finding some unstable snow in the form of a small persistent slab on an isolated terrain feature on a NW-N-NE aspect is not impossible. Even though avalanches are unlikely, continue to evaluate the snowpack before committing to a slope and employ safe backcountry travel practices like traveling one at a time and spotting partners from known safe zones outside of any avalanche path. The shallow snowpack has left numerous rocks, trees, stumps, logs and other obstacles exposed for people recreating in the backcountry to hit.

Avalanche Discussion

On the NW-N-NE aspects a shallow snowpack composed mostly of weak sugary snow exists. In some areas this shallow snowpack has small slab-like layers in it. On some near and above treeline slopes, isolated, small, and difficult-to-trigger wind slabs still rest on top of the pack. In other areas no slabs exist and the snowpack consists of weak snow with more weak snow above it. On Mt. Judah on Saturday, snowpit tests, hand pits, ski cuts on test slopes, and general observations indicated that even though weak layers exist in the snowpack, stable conditions currently exist.  This data is consistent with other observations from around the forecast area during the past week. A few snowpit tests in some areas still showed some variability, but most tests and data have pointed to a stable snowpack.

Regions covered