Central Sierra Nevada

A shallow snowpack made of mostly weak sugary snow exists in many places. For now, avalanches are unlikely since nothing sits on top of the weak snow. The shallow snow also has left many things to hit, barely covered or still exposed.

Normal caution

A shallow snowpack exists across the forecast area. Recent observations have shown 1.5 to 2 feet of snow in shaded areas and a foot or less on more sunny southerly facing slopes. The long cold nights have allowed the snowpack to lose strength during the recent dry spell despite mild daytime temperatures. The snow has become weak and sugary through a process known as faceting, a common occurrence in cold, shallow snowpacks. This process has kept the snow soft in many areas, except for very sun-exposed slopes and upper-elevation slopes exposed to the winds. Those areas either have sun-crusts or wind-scoured surfaces. For now, these variable conditions do not include a slab layer on top of the weak sugary snow. This could change when more precipitation returns to the forecast area. Substantial rain or snowfall on top of the current weak, faceted, sugary snowpack will likely lead to avalanches.

Take care when recreating in the shallow snowpack. Rocks, trees, stumps, and other season-ending obstacles exist on or just below the snow surface. Traveling slowly and cautiously now could mean the difference between a season of hanging out with your favorite physical therapist or playing in a deep mid-season snowpack. Hopefully, next week's storms will improve coverage and reduce the chances of hitting rocks, logs, stumps, etc.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, please submit your observations. A photo and a simple description can help create more detailed and accurate products.