Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wet snow instabilities will be possible today on all aspects and elevations. Look for rollerballs, mushy snow, and recent avalanche activity, especially near rocks, vegetation, and cliffbands. Plan to travel on slopes with colder snow surfaces and dial back your slope angle and exposure to steep terrain overhead as daytime warming occurs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    As skies clear and temperatures rise today, you can expect snow surfaces to warm quickly at lower elevations. As the day continues, freezing levels will rise above 11,000', bringing the Wet Loose avalanche hazard into the high alpine. Look for rollerballs, pinwheels, mushy, unsupportable snow, and recent avalanche activity to alert you to the problem. Radiators such as rocks, vegetation, and cliff bands tend to heat up first, warming nearby snow quickly.

    Wet Loose avalanches often fail from a single point and entrain heavy snow as they move downhill. Wet Loose avalanches can also trigger larger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers. Travel early when the snow surface is colder. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder slopes or to lower slope angles once the snow surface turns to mush. Avoid steep slopes above terrain traps, cliffs, and sustained steep pitches.

    Photo: Mike Phillips 

    Wet Loose avalanche, East, above treeline terrain, start zone ~ 8000'. 3/22/25. 

Avalanche Discussion

Our snowpack is currently transitioning as we enter into a significant warming period. Freezing levels will approach 12,000' tonight and remain there through at least the early portion of the coming week. We may see record highs. As we get excited about the prospects of warm weather, alpine travel, and spring skiing, it's important to remember that we are not yet in a predictable spring melt-freeze cycle. Lingering, stubborn wind slabs may exist on leeward slopes, and wet snow instabilities may be present at all aspects and elevations. Conditions will deteriorate as water percolates deeper into the snowpack. If that happens, Wet Loose avalanche debris could trigger a larger slab avalanche. Timing your day appropriately will be essential to maximize safety, efficiency, and fun as we head into the next few days. 

 

 

 

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