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Out of date — this forecast expired 10 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger continues for all elevations. Isolated areas of instability may exist. Use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry by utilizing the accepted best practice travel techniques for travel in or below avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    No specific avalanche problems of major concern exist in the backcountry at this time. Minor, mostly inconsequential wet loose instabilities may occur again today in steep areas that receive direct sun exposure. Isolated slab avalanche activity is unlikely but not impossible today, especially in complex or extreme terrain. Large cornices present an ongoing hazard, especially while in melt phase.

    Keep the odds stacked in favor of the backcountry traveler by utilizing accepted best practice travel techniques for travel in or below avalanche terrain. This includes exposing only one person at a time to steep slopes and not grouping up in low angle areas with connected steeper terrain above (avalanche runout zones). Avoid traveling near cornice edges or stopping below cornice features as large sections of cornice collapse can occur.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Rubicon Peak (West Shore Tahoe area) and on Jobs Sister (Luther Pass area) revealed areas of snow surface warming. On Rubicon Peak wet surface snow was noted in shaded areas on N aspects between 7,200' and 7,600'. This elevation band was just on the warm side of the air temperature inversion boundary. More widespread areas of surface wet snow were noted on Jobs Sister on S-SE aspects as high as 10,000' during the afternoon hours. Wet snow was not present on the E aspect of Rubicon Peak at 9,000' at mid day. Signs of over 2 feet of storm snow settlement occurring over the past week were present on the N slopes of Rubicon Peak.

Regions covered