Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Blowing snow may have built fresh wind slabs on leeward terrain features in the alpine. Look out for pockets of unstable snow just below summits and ridgelines. Lower-elevation snow may be adjusting to today's warmer temperatures and wet loose activity could result.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Today will be warmer than previous days, and loose snow near and below the treeline may begin to melt. This warming will be most pronounced on steeper sun-exposed slopes. Wet loose avalanches are most dangerous when triggered by another person or naturally in the terrain above you. Likely natural triggers include melting snow falling off trees and rock outcrops. If the surface snow begins to melt at your elevation during the day it may be worth avoiding travel on or underneath very steep slopes on solar aspects. These avalanches will be mostly small, but an involvement could lead to an athletic injury or a consequential fall in steep rocky terrain.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds have shifted and blown soft snow onto leeward aspects several times over the past few days. Snow plumes from northeast winds were visible over higher peaks in the Mammoth area yesterday, 1/20/23. New slabs may have formed on steep terrain features that encourage drifting such as the leeward sides of ridgelines, gully features, and cross-loaded depressions. Dense, textured surfaces that feel hollow or crack around you on test slopes are clues that you could trigger an avalanche in steep start zones. Use caution entering steep terrain near summits and ridgelines.

Avalanche Discussion

The most recent wind slab avalanche was reported two days ago. Since then a light snowstorm with the greatest accumulations in the Mammoth area and recent northest winds may have refreshed the wind slab problem in the alpine. The forecasted likelihood and consequence of this problem are based on weather data and observations of blowing snow visible on peaks in the Mammoth area. There were no observations from parties above treeline in the Mammoth area yesterday, so there is uncertainty as to the size and reactivity of wind deposits that formed yesterday.

Additional uncertainty surrounds how lower elevation snow will react to above-freezing temperatures below 10000' today. Some wet loose activity is possible on steep southerlies, especially if temperatures exceed forecasted levels.

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