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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today, avoiding obstacles and dealing with variable snow surfaces still remains the primary concern for backcountry travelers. Things will change during the night as new snow and wind will create avalanche problems on top of the shallow snowpack. The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations today, but it will INCREASE tonight and tomorrow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    The uneven and variable snow surfaces and a plethora of rocks, stumps, logs, and other obstacles will continue to make backcountry travel challenging today. Falls and collisions with these obstacles could damage equipment and injure people. Moving at slower speeds on more mellow terrain and being observant can make avoiding obstacles easier and snow travel more fun.

    Conditions will change as new snow and wind impact the forecast area tonight and tomorrow. The forecasted snowfall amounts will hide some of the existing obstacles making them harder to see and easier to hit. The snow and wind will also create avalanche problems for tomorrow including slabs of wind drifted snow and potentially some slabs of storm snow in more sheltered areas.

Avalanche Discussion

* A mostly supportable snowpack 1-2 ft. deep exists on northerly aspects above 8600 ft. in the Mt. Rose area, above 7000 ft. along the northern Sierra Crest, and above 8000 ft. along the southern Sierra Crest. 

* The snow surface varies widely with wind-scoured and sculpted surfaces in exposed near and above treeline terrain. More sheltered areas hold a mix of firm melt-freeze snow, breakable crusts, and some areas of soft surface snow (near-surface facets) on sheltered northerly aspects. The near and below treeline northerly aspects hold the most snow. Significant snow-melt has occurred on the southerly aspects leaving exposed ground on many of these slopes.

* Since our last storm on Nov. 18, mostly clear skies, long cold nights, and low sun angles have allowed a layer of weak sugary snow (near-surface facets) to form on sheltered northerly aspects. As new snow accumulates on top of this potential weak layer, it could overload the layer, and avalanche activity may result.

Regions covered