Early season conditions update #3 - Regular avalanche advisories will begin later this fall.
More storms are expected to impact the forecast area this week. Some isolated areas of a usable snowpack exist along the Sierra Crest in the northern portion of the forecast area. Anyone participating in over snow travel in or near avalanche terrain needs to carry and properly use companion rescue gear a well as apply avalanche avoidance training.
Another round of high elevation snow and strong to gale force SW winds will again bring the potential for wind slab formation this week. This will mainly occur above 7,500' to 8,000' where significant snowfall is expected. Storm events tonight and again Wed-Fri will provide opportunities for wind slab avalanche problems.
Rain on snow may allow for some loose wet avalanche problems. This will occur below snow level, currently forecast to range from 7,000' to 8,500' during storms this week. Locations where rain falls on new snow will be most problematic.
Variable snowpack and coverage conditions exist around the forecast area. The areas with the greatest snow depths of 1 to 2 feet and a supportable, usable snowpack are found above 7,800' along the Sierra Crest from the northern boundary of the forecast area down to somewhere in between Ellis Peak and Rubicon Peak. Areas further south along the Sierra Crest have had significantly less snowfall thus far. Areas along the Mount Rose Hwy in the NE portion of the forecast area have minimal snow coverage with just 6-10'' of snow on northerly aspects above 9000'. The snowpack in this area has shown more potential for future avalanche problems involving old snow layers.
