Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and decreasing winds are expected to form wet snow on sunny slopes today.  This wet snow could become problematic where recent storm snow exists from this past weekend's storm on the Eastern and Southern portions of the forecast region.  Use caution if traveling in these areas as daytime warming occurs and surface snow becomes deep and wet.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warming conditions will create wet snow on sunny slopes as daytime warming occurs.  Avalanche hazard today will vary greatly from location to location with areas that received the most snow from last weekend's storm being the areas of concern for wet snow instabilities today.  Eastern and Southern areas of the forecast region will include Mt. Rose, East Shore of Lake Tahoe, Luther Pass, Carson Pass, and Ebbetts Pass-some of these areas received up to 1 foot of recent snow over the weekend.  This recent storm snow will exist on top of firm crusts on E-S-W aspects and have a good bed surface to run on as daytime warming occurs.  Wind protected below treeline terrain, cross loaded gully features, areas below ridges, and open sunny slopes could all produce wet loose avalanches that involve most or all of the recent storm snow.

    Locations that received very little or no new storm snow last weekend will have limited wet snow instabilities today.  These areas have established melt freeze surface crusts and a good overnight refreeze of the snowpack.  These areas will experience LOW avalanche danger today with limited snow surface melt.

    As daytime warming occurs, the recent storm snow could become deep and wet.  Roller balls and pinwheels could be indications that larger wet loose avalanches could become possible.   

Avalanche Discussion

Snow surface conditions vary greatly depending on exposure to wind, elevation, and aspect.  Recent storm snow from this past weekend's storm fell on the eastern and southern portions of the forecast area, with up to 1 foot of snow in some areas. Beneath this new snow, expect to still feel the uneven surfaces, wind-sculpted features, firm surfaces, refrozen tracks, and scoured ice crusts in many areas. Many places have firm and icy conditions from wind scouring from the gale force Northeast winds, allowing for sliding falls or runaway equipment/snowmobiles on steep slopes in near and above treeline locations.  The Northern Sierra Crest received little to almost no new snow with this last storm with no snow surface condition changes.

Regions covered