Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will remain LOW for all elevations today since significant avalanche activity is unlikely. Unlikely does not mean impossible. Some unstable snow may still lurk on isolated terrain features somewhere in the forecast area in the form of a remotely possible but very unlikely deep slab problem or small and mostly inconsequential wet snow issues in lower elevation terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    0

    Significant avalanche activity is unlikely today on a regional scale, but some unlikely but not impossible instabilities may still lurk on a few isolated terrain features across the region. These isolated instabilities could take the form of small wet snow issues like roller balls, pinwheels, or wet snow sluffs in lower elevation terrain where wet surface snow exists or where rain falls on the snow surface. This kind of instability should only involve a small amount of snow.

    In the very unlikely event of an isolated slab avalanche today, it would be a lingering deep slab that may still lurk on some isolated terrain feature somewhere in the forecast area where the weak layer remains weak. Unfortunately, if one of these unlikely but still remotely possible deeps slabs were to occur, the consequences would still be serious. 

    Continue to make observations and assess the current conditions while traveling in the backcountry. In addition to looking for clues on the surface, use a probe or shovel to get a feel for what layers are buried in the snowpack. When there is uncertainty about a choice or the conditions, give yourself a buffer and choose the more cautious and conservative plan.

Avalanche Discussion

* Yesterday snowpit observations in Shirley Canyon and in the Slab Cliffs area showed the once persistent weak layer continues to gain strength. This data matches well with other snowpit tests and observations from around the forecast area this week indicating that the previous facet layer buried deep in the snowpack has become increasingly denser, more cohesive, and more rounded. 

* Wet sticky surface snow existed on all aspects up to at least 7000 ft. in the Shirley Canyon area yesterday and numerous small roller balls occurred on steep low elevation terrain.

* Around Incline Peak, the snow surface remained soft and cold on N aspects and shaded NW and NE aspects above 8600 ft. Wet surface snow in this area remained limited to the more sun-exposed E-SE aspects.

* Ski cuts on a SE facing test slope around 1 pm triggered a few minor roller balls in the Incline Lake Peak area.

Regions covered