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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

LOW avalanche danger exists for all elevations. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Recent new snow buried and preserved the Dec 4 surface hoar layer under just a few inches of new snow. Generally, the snow above the surface hoar weak layer is too shallow and lacks sufficient cohesiveness to present a problematic slab. Avalanche concerns are minimal at this time until another loading event occurs. Exercise normal caution while traveling in the backcountry to keep a margin of safety against the unexpected isolated pocket of unstable snow.

    Ridgetop winds are expected to pick up a little bit tonight from the SW. There is plenty of unconsolidated snow along the ridgetops available for wind transport. It is possible that a few small and isolated wind slabs could form tonight. This added load on top of the buried 12/4 surface hoar layer may create areas of unstable snow.

Avalanche Discussion

* The Dec 4 buried surface hoar layer has been noted within the top 6 inches of the snowpack in many but not all locations around the forecast area. It is often difficult to find when present. Grain size ranges from 4 to 15 mm (about 1/8 to 1/2 inch).

* The deeper snowpack is well consolidated and without problematic weak layers.

* No new avalanche activity has been reported since Dec 2.

* Decent snow coverage exists above 7,000' to 7,500' along the Sierra Crest with the best coverage in the northern and far southern Sierra Crest portions of the forecast area.  Snow coverage declines to the east.  Early season conditions exist.

Regions covered