Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wet surface snow will develop as daytime warming occurs.  Human triggered loose wet avalanche activity is expected to be limited today due to cloud cover.  LOW avalanche danger continues for the forecast region.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Wet surface snow will develop today as daytime warming occurs.  Continued cloud cover should limit solar radiation and the extent of loose wet instabilities again today.  Human triggered loose wet avalanches could occur on steep sun exposed slopes with the majority of these avalanches expected to remain small (D1) in size.  Areas around rocks, cliffs, and gully features that absorb more solar radiation will be the likely areas for loose wet instabilities to occur. 

    Locations that do not receive the amount of cloud cover forecasted may experience deeper wet surface snow and increased loose wet avalanche activity.  If slopes exceed 3-4'' of wet surface snow, it's time to move to different aspects or to terrain below 30 degrees in steepness.  Even small avalanches could have increased consequences if terrain traps or other downslope hazards exist.  

    (3/2/2021) Small skier triggered loose wet avalanche on Incline Lake Peak. SE aspect, 8600', at 12pm.

Avalanche Discussion

* Diurnal melt freeze conditions exist on many SE-S-SW aspects below around 8500'.  E and W aspects and elevations above 8500' are still mostly transitional and have not formed established melt freeze crusts.

* Pockets of unconsolidated soft snow still exist on northerly aspects in wind protected below treeline areas.  Some faceting has been observed in the upper snowpack.

*  Exposed rain crusts, melt freeze crusts, and wind scoured surfaces can be encountered on any aspect and elevation.

Regions covered