Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

You could still trigger an avalanche where the wind has deposited dense drifts over weak, sugary snow below ridgelines and in gullies. As the surface melts, wet loose avalanches will become possible on steep, sunny slopes. Lower-angled, shady, and sheltered slopes have softer snow and are the safest alternative to both avalanche problems. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recent, variable winds have drifted low-density snow into cohesive slabs on all aspects. Increasing north winds overnight may have formed fresh, small drifts on southerly slopes. On northerly aspects, old slabs may still be sensitive where they rest atop a layer of weak, sugary facets. These may be less predictable and harder to manage.

    Wind slabs typically form below the leeward side of ridges or in crossloaded gullies. Cracking or collapsing in drifted snow are clear warning signs of the problem. Softer, safer riding can be found in wind-sheltered areas.

    (1/27/2025) Propagating snowpack test results breaking on weak facets under a cohesive wind slab. Photo: Samantha Rubin

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures climb above freezing today, with sunny skies and decreasing wind. These factors will combine to thaw the recent low-density snow on solar aspects. There is less snow to melt at lower elevations, where wet avalanches should be smaller. 

    The best way to manage Wet Loose avalanches is to travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Time your trip to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the heat of the day. Move to colder, shadier aspects before the snow surface turns slushy. Rollerballs and pinwheels are obvious precursors to Wet Loose avalanches.

    Small wet loose avalanche in a steep, southeast-facing couloir. Photo: Steve Mace

Avalanche Discussion

Stability: Small slab avalanches and loose snow sluffs occurred during or immediately following the storm on the 26th. On wind-drifted, northerly slopes, observers reported localized cracking and collapsing on a layer of facets buried under cohesive wind slabs. Propagating snowpack tests on the 27th confirm that structure.

Snowpack: Prior to the low-density storm snow that fell on the night of the 25th, wind-exposed and sunny slopes had firm crusts or bare ground. Protected, shady terrain had a layer of well-developed facets at the surface. 2 to 18 inches of cold snow fell, and variable winds drifted it into cohesive slabs at higher elevations. Yesterday, increasing northerly winds blew snow over the top of the Sherwins in the afternoon. Snow surfaces melted slightly on solars slopes during the sunniest part of the day.

Uncertainty: There is only one wind sensor in our entire forecast area, and the winds have been shifting frequently. This increases the level of uncertainty for wind slab distribution. In most places, the snow that sits atop weak facets has been unconsolidated. There is uncertainty over whether rising temperatures will help settle the recent snow and create sensitive slabs in more areas. Low slope angles and sheltered terrain are always the safest bet when faced with uncertainty.

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