Avalanche forecast

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Minor surface wet snow instabilities are possible during the afternoon hours, but are not expected to present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Air temperatures are around 5 degrees warmer this morning at the mid and upper elevations than they were 24 hours ago. Radiational cooling under clear skies combined with convective cooling from strong E winds last night are expected to have allowed for sufficient release of heat from the snowpack to have created a decent to solid overnight snow surface refreeze despite the warmer air temperatures. Wet surface snow will once again form in sun exposed areas in response to daytime warming. Convective cooling from moderate speed E winds is expected to slow the rate of snow surface melt in wind exposed areas. Small, minor wet snow instabilities are possible this afternoon in the form of human triggered roller balls, pinwheels, and/or small shallow loose wet avalanches. The size of any human triggered loose wet avalanche activity today is not expected to present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers.

    Other hazards to manage today include exposed rocks on southerly aspects and difficult to travel firm icy surfaces on near and above treeline northerly aspects.

Avalanche Discussion

Observations made yesterday on Mt. Houghton (Mount Rose area) showed a continued decrease in snow cover on SE-S-SW aspects and wet snow formation occurring in areas of sun exposure with wind protection. Convective cooling kept the snow surface exposed to the east winds on southerly aspects frozen at mid day despite direct sun exposure and above freezing air temperatures. At the same time, wind sheltered areas on southerly aspects between 9,400' and 10,400' held 1 to 3 inches of surface wet snow over very supportable melt-freeze crust at mid day.

Regions covered