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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Highlights

A shallow layer of wet surface snow should form on sun-exposed slopes today, but it should not get deep enough for significant wet loose avalanche activity. Shady slopes may remain firm all day. LOW avalanche danger exists with normal caution advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Sunny warm weather today will form a layer of soft wet loose snow on top of refrozen surfaces. Mid to lower elevation slopes will experience the most warming and more exposed upper elevation slopes will take longer to soften. N winds at the upper elevations, a solid overnight refreeze, and well-established snowpack drainage should keep significant loose wet avalanche activity unlikely today. The sun-exposed E-SE aspects will soften first followed by the S-SW-W aspects. Northerly aspects should remain mostly firm.

    Variable and challenging conditions with the potential for long sliding falls on firm surfaces and/or collisions with exposed obstacles exist on many backcountry slopes. Careful timing that allows soft corn snow to form on sun-exposed slopes and terrain selection that matches your group's skills and equipment can make backcountry travel more fun and safer.

Avalanche Discussion

* Spring melt-freeze conditions continue on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Firm refrozen surfaces exist on these slopes in the morning. As the day warms up, a layer of soft corn snow forms on the surface of these slopes.

* NW-N-NE aspects hold mostly firm surfaces in exposed near and above treeline areas. In more sheltered areas, a mix of breakable crusts, firm surfaces, and a few isolated areas of softer faceted surface snow exist.

Regions covered