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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger should remain LOW today. Despite the LOW danger rating, some very small, shallow wind slabs may lurk on isolated terrain features in near and above treeline terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Avalanche activity large enough to bury a person should remain unlikely today due to the minimal amounts of current and forecasted new snow accumulation. However, some small wind slabs may exist near ridgelines on isolated terrain features where the most new snow accumulates and where the most wind-loading occurs. These wind slabs could exist on any aspect due to the shifting winds, but they should remain very shallow and should not extend more than a few feet from the ridgelines. 

    Other dangers like falls on frozen crusts, collisions with some of the numerous exposed obstacles, or both still exist. Continue to plan travel in the backcountry to minimize risks. 

Avalanche Discussion

* Snow surfaces remained frozen on any slopes where snow had been through melt-freeze cycles during the warm weather including E-SE-S-SW-W aspects in the Carson Pass, Donner Summit and Mt. Rose areas.

* Snow coverage on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects varies significantly by location and elevation. In some areas, little to no continuous snow cover exists on these aspects below 8,200' to 9,000'. In some cases, these aspects are mostly bare ground up to elevations above 10,000'.

* Snowpit data and observations from N aspects on Elephant's Hump (Carson Pass area) in an area where previous tests yielded unstable results did not reveal any signs of instability. 

* Observers reported some areas of minor blowing snow near ridgelines yesterday on Elephant's Hump and on Incline Lake Peak (Mt. Rose backcountry).

* Some soft, cold, unconsolidated surface snow still lingers on sheltered untracked N aspects across the forecast area. Snow surface conditions elsewhere on NW-N-NE aspects range from breakable crust to heavily tracked to firm wind scoured. Snow coverage becomes less consistent and more limited on northerly aspects below 7500 ft. in most areas.

Regions covered