Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Increasing winds will drive any change to stability concerns today. Fresh slab development is possible in leeward catchment zones near and above treeline. Conduct your own localized assessments and be ready to adjust your plans if you observe significant wind transport.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Increasing winds could lead to some fresh slab development in exposed areas near and above treeline.  Solar warming over the last couple of days has affected many southerly slopes, limiting the amount of snow available for transport. It will be important to conduct your own localized assessments and be ready to adjust your plans if you see significant wind transport today. Be suspicious of terrain features that encourage drifting, such as the leeward sides of ridgelines, mid-slope depressions, alpine couloirs, gully features, and cross-loaded depressions. Keep in mind that even a small avalanche will have elevated consequences in more complex terrain. Blowing snow, stiff, hollow-feeling snow, and uneven snow surfaces are all clues that indicate nearby wind deposits.

Avalanche Discussion

Mostly quiet weather over the past few days has benifited our overall stability, and avalanche concerns have become isolated in nature. Surface faceting has maintained loose surface snow on shaded slopes, while warm sunny days have led to a variety of surface conditions on solar slopes. Increasing winds will drive any change to the avalanche picture today. Be ready for a variety of stability concerns depending on where you decide to travel. Finding surface instabilities like loose dry sluffs on steep, shaded slopes or loose wet instabilities on steep, sunny slopes won't be impossible.  Be particularly aware if you decide to venture into the high alpine. Even a small avalanche, slab or sluff, will have elevated consequences in exposed or extreme terrain. 

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