Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Expect wet snow instabilities to develop quickly this morning as our warming trend continues. The best bet is to get an early start and time your day to be away from steep slopes, start zones, and the runouts of avalanche paths before the upper snowpack becomes wet and unconsolidated.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Partly cloudy skies and strong winds may help limit the solar impact today, particularly above treeline. However, without a refreeze last night, you can expect surface snow to soften very quickly. Sheltered areas near rock outcroppings, cliff bands, and tight rocky couloirs where the effects of warming are amplified will present elevated hazards. Wet, sticky snow surfaces, rollerballs and pinwheels, and increasing boot penetration are all signs of surface warming and may foreshadow larger point-release avalanches. Be wary of overhead hazards today, and be ready to retreat if the surface snow thaws, causing you to sink into wet and unconsolidated snow. 

    Photo: Steve Mace

    Wet Loose avalanche, Tioga area likely failed 3/23-3/25

Avalanche Discussion

Significant Wet Loose activity has been observed up and down the range during this week’s warm-up. However, recent field observations have noted a generally stabilizing trend as surface snow has gone through multiple melt-freeze cycles. While still possible, the distribution of problematic areas has become more isolated, and the size is likely to be relatively small.

With multiple days of near-record temperatures and a very weak refreeze last night, forecasters have been discussing the potential of Wet Slab activity. As surface snow melts and liquid water moves through the snowpack, it can pool near buried weak layers, increasing the odds of a large and destructive Wet Slab avalanche. While this would currently be an unlikely event, it is not completely impossible, as evidenced by this avalanche observed north of our forecast area. The areas of greatest concern are near and below treeline on northerly and easterly aspects. Wet Slabs can initiate on their own, or a relatively small Wet Loose avalanche could step down to weak layers deep in the snowpack, creating a larger and more destructive slab avalanche. Wet Slab hazards come with high levels of uncertainty, and they can release with very little warning. When in doubt, give yourself a wide safety margin and avoid exposure to steep terrain with wet and punchy snow. 

Regions covered