Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

MODERATE avalanche danger will form on slopes steeper than 35 degrees on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations and may form on some near and below treeline NW-N-NE aspects as loose wet avalanches become possible today. Some loose wet snow avalanches could entrain enough snow to pose a threat to backcountry travelers. Once deep wet snow exists on a slope, it is time to move to more frozen aspects, onto lower angle slopes, or to switch to a different afternoon activity.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Several loose wet avalanches that entrained enough snow to carry a person down slope and maybe bury or injure a person have occurred in the last few days. These kind of loose wet avalanches will become possible again today as the strong March sunshine and warm daytime temperatures melt through last night's refreeze. Since temperatures remained well below freezing last night, a stronger refreeze that may take slightly longer to melt should have occurred. Most of the loose wet instabilities that do occur today should consist of small roller balls, pinwheels, and point releases, but some larger loose wet avalanches similar to those in the recent observations that entrain enough snow to cause problems for backcountry travelers could still occur. Slopes steeper than 35 degrees on sun-exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations will hold the best potential for loose wet avalanches since they should experience the most warming, but some of the mid to lower elevation NW-N-NE aspects could also see enough sun for some wet snow instabilities to form.

    Sinking into wet snow above your boot tops and small surface instabilities like roller balls, pinwheels, or point releases can provide clues that enough wet snow has formed for loose wet avalanches to become an issue. When the last night's refreeze melts and the snowpack becomes unsupportable, it is time to move to more frozen slopes or onto lower angle slopes off and away from slopes 35 degrees or steeper. Terrain traps like gullies, creeks, and cliffs can greatly increase the risk of any size loose wet avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

At least 2 skier triggered loose wet avalanches that entrained enough snow to carry a person down slope occurred in the backcountry around Emerald Bay before 1pm yesterday. One of them occurred on a E-ENE facing aspect west of Emerald Bay, and one occurred on the E facing path on Jake's. We observed these slides from the road and do not have any other details on them. Another larger loose wet avalanche that likely occurred on March 24 had occurred in one of the S facing chutes on Jakes. This slide looked to have released naturally on a 37 degree slope, and it slid about 400 ft. down slope.

Yesterday 2 to 4 inches of wet snow had formed above a thin melt freeze crust on the south side of Jake's Peak by 11 am. This crust remained supportable until around noon and it appeared that it would soon melt all the way through at that time. Skier triggered loose wet roller balls occurred on E facing slopes. North facing upper elevation slopes held a mix of softer snow and thin crusts. 

Regions covered