Bulletin d’avalanche

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
2 · Modéré
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Warm temperatures and strong March sunshine will quickly melt through the snow surface refreeze as daytime warming occurs. Wet loose avalanches will become possible as the surface crusts melt away exposing deep wet snow. Move to a different aspect with less sun exposure or away from avalanche terrain if slopes become wet and unsupportable.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    Another poor overnight refreeze of the snow surface is expected to quickly melt away this morning as daytime warming occurs.  Deep, mushy, and unsupportable snow is expected to form on sun exposed slopes.  Once the snow surface becomes wet and unsupportable, it's time to move to a different aspect with less sun exposure or away from avalanche terrain. Get an early start if you are looking for the short window with supportable snow surface conditions on sunny slopes.

    Overnight temperatures were well above freezing in the mid 40's to mid 50's above 7000'. A superficial refreeze is expected in most areas relying completely on radiational cooling of the snow surface due to mostly clear overnight skies. Our snow has transitioned into a late spring/early summer snowpack with repeated melt-freeze cycles, previous rain, and well established free water drainage channels. This means that most wet loose avalanches will remain small in size with the potential for isolated larger avalanches on bigger slopes. Keep in mind that even small avalanches can have increased consequences in exposed terrain.  

    (3/20/2026)

    Natural wet loose avalanches at 8800ft on an east aspect above Crater Lake.

    Carson Pass area.

    Photo: Sarah Newsome

Avalanche Discussion

Most cornices have already collapsed or melted. Isolated overhanging cornices that still exist near ridgetops should be treated as suspect for collapse.

Dramatic snow melt has occurred on all aspects below 7,500' and on southerly aspects at all elevations. Large areas of bare ground and open flowing creeks with few to no snow bridges are making the approaches to terrain difficult in many places, especially from lower elevation trailheads.

While shaded northerly aspects offer better snow coverage, they also hold much firmer and bumpier snow surfaces. Long sliding falls remain a hazard in areas that hold frozen snow surfaces.

Régions couvertes