Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger linger today above treeline due to the potential for yesterday's human triggered wind slab avalanche activity to continue. For near treeline and below treeline areas avalanche danger is LOW. Some areas with minor amounts of wet surface snow may exist today, but loose wet avalanche problems are not expected.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Winds slabs formed during the most recent snowfall have been slow to stabilize in certain areas as characterized by yesterday's human triggered avalanche activity in the Carson Pass area. Recent field observations from the preceding days did not find signs of particularly problematic or widespread wind slab problems around the forecast area in general. Instability appears to be somewhat isolated. Some wind slabs have been reported to fail near or on the melt-freeze crust at the base of the recent storm snow.

    Continue to use caution when traveling in areas with signs of recent wind slab formation, especially above treeline on N and NE aspects. Some of these wind slabs may be firm, allowing a person to travel fairly far out onto the slab before an avalanche occurs.  

Avalanche Discussion

A fair amount of human triggered avalanche activity was reported yesterday. Three small to medium sized unintentionally skier triggered wind slab avalanches occurred above treeline on N to NE aspects in the Carson Pass area. One medium sized intentionally skier triggered loose wet avalanche was reported to have occurred in below treeline terrain on an E aspect in the Mount Rose area.  

Regions covered