Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

People may still trigger avalanches where blowing and drifting snow piles up near ridges, in gullies, and on open slopes today, particularly at higher elevations where more snow fell. Move carefully around these areas, especially if you see signs of unstable snow. A thin snowpack in many places also means there are still plenty of rocks, trees, stumps and other obstacles to hit.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Travel plans that focus on terrain sheltered from the wind will reduce the chances of triggering an avalanche and should help find softer, more consistent snow. Look for clues like blowing snow, cornices above a slope, and piles of wind-drifted snow to help identify where wind slabs may exist. Shooting cracks and recent avalanches provide clear signs of unstable snow. 

    In areas where new snow fell during the storm, blowing snow filled in the downwind side of ridges, gullies, and open slopes with slabs of wind-blown snow. Blowing snow will continue to accumulate in these areas today as strong winds keep moving snow across ridges. Areas above 8500 ft that received the most snow (places like the upper elevations around Carson Pass and the Mt Rose area) will hold larger and more sensitive wind slabs. Triggering a wind slab avalanche in one of these areas remains possible today. There may still be a few spots at the highest elevations where the new snow rests on older weak layers. In lower-elevation areas where most recent precipitation fell as rain, the likelihood of encountering an unstable wind slab is lower. 

    (12/22/2025)

    Skier-triggered shooting cracks up to 20 ft in length indicated unstable wind slabs around Tamarack Peak.

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Even with the new snow, we have a very limited amount of terrain available for over-snow recreation throughout the forecast region.  Collision hazards with rocks, bushes, stumps, down trees, and open water continue to exist.  

We had an early start to our winter with snow and rain in October through mid-November.  After a 3+ week dry spell in late November into December, the upper snowpack became weak, faceted, sugary snow.  Widespread snow loss occurred with warm temperatures and high elevation rain that followed, leaving a 1-2' snowpack above 8500-9000' on mostly northerly aspects. The recent storm rained up to ~10,000 ft and soaked those old weak layers, changing them into wet snow. As they refreeze, they gain strength. A few areas may still hold some of these weak layers, but data indicate they are becoming more isolated. 

Regions covered