Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Some human-triggered wind slab avalanches may remain possible today. Near and above treeline MODERATE avalanche danger exists in wind-loaded areas. Evaluate the snowpack and terrain carefully to identify features where problematic wind slabs may exist and plan travel routes to avoid them.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Most wind slabs should remain relatively small and not extend very far away from the ridgelines, but some larger wind slabs may still exist in heavily wind-loaded areas. Human-triggerable wind slab avalanches may remain possible on wind-loaded slopes today. The snow that fell late yesterday afternoon and evening allowed the wind slabs to grow in size and distribution. While the forecast calls for the winds to remain light to moderate today in many areas, some wind transport and new loading may occur during periods of stronger winds and gusts today, especially along the Sierra Crest. Wind slabs could exist on almost any aspects in near and above treeline terrain due to the shifting wind directions over the last 36 hours. 

    Identify where wind slabs may exist using clues like blowing snow, cornices, wind pillows, ripples across a slope, firm but hollow sounding snow, and other wind created textures. Use this information to plan a route that avoids the wind slabs and utilizes more sheltered terrain where better snow for recreation will exist.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations on Andesite Peak, Fireplug, and the Talking Mountain ridge showed SE-E winds blowing snow and wind-loading leeward aspects. Most of the wind slabs formed by these winds remained small measuring only 3 to 6 inches in depth in the afternoon and did not extend very far downslope. On west aspects on Andesite Peak, some of these wind slabs reached 6 to 12 inches in depth in the most heavily wind-loaded areas. Ski cuts and kicks did trigger some cracking on Andesite and Fireplug. In the Talking Mountain area, snowboard cuts triggered small loose dry sluffs involving the top few inches of the new snow on steep test slopes. Snowpit data, hand pits, and other observations did not reveal significant signs of slab formation or instability in sheltered areas in all three locations. 

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