Central Sierra Nevada

Up to a couple of inches of surface wet snow will form today on wind protected slopes with direct sun exposure. Highly variable snow surface conditions exist everywhere else. Avalanches remain unlikely.

Normal caution

Continued NE ridgetop winds today will temper snow surface melt. Sunny skies this morning will allow for up to a couple of inches of surface wet snow to form by midday on wind protected SE-S-SW aspects. Wind exposed slopes near ridgetops or slopes that receive more indirect sun are expected to remain frozen all day. Any snow surface instabilities that occur today should be very minor at best. Avalanches remain unlikely at this time.

Using pre-trip planning can help your group find conditions and terrain that fit your travel mode and goals.  Maintain safety margins through best-practice backcountry travel techniques such as carrying proper safety gear, performing trailhead transceiver checks, exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain, and keeping your partner in view. 

Recent Observations:

• An increasing amount of bare ground has emerged on southerly aspects over the past two weeks.
• Snow surface conditions remain highly variable across the forecast area. Expect to encounter firm ice, rough wind sculpted snow, firm wind-packed snow, shallow soft snow, breakable crusts, and melt-freeze snow.
• A well-bonded and consolidated snowpack exists across nearly all aspects and elevations. Gradual near-surface faceting continues to weaken the top portion of the snowpack on most NW-N-NE aspects with wind protection.  A new snow load is needed on top of this developing weak layer before slab avalanche problems occur.