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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will remain LOW for all elevations and aspects. Continue to use normal caution and practice safe travel habits when traveling in the backcountry.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Due to settlement and consolidation in the snowpack since the last storm, natural and human triggered avalanches remain unlikely today. Unlikely does not mean impossible and unstable snow could linger on isolated terrain features especially in complex or extreme terrain like couliors, gullies, areas around cliffs, or unsupported slopes. Even though the avalanche danger is LOW continue to practice safe travel habits like traveling one at a time in avalanche terrain and regrouping in safe zones. Other backcountry hazards including icy conditions on some exposed near and above treeline slopes where arresting a fall would be difficult and a shallow snowpack with lots of obstacles still remain.

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday observations on Lincoln Ridge (Yuba Pass area) showed consistency with other data from around the region. Scoured firm, icy conditions existed on slopes exposed to the N-NE winds especially on near and above treeline N-NE aspects. Partially sheltered areas held variable conditions ranging from wind packed snow to exposed crusts to a few inches of soft unconsolidated snow sitting on a supportable crust. On the sheltered N-NE aspects in near and below treeline terrain, 4-6 inches of soft snow remains on top of the supportable rain crust. Snowpit data still indicates that a weak layer may be slowly forming below the rain crust. Other than this possible future issue observations did not reveal any signs of instabilities.

Regions covered