Bulletin d’avalanche

Eastside Region

Eastern 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 3 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Time your day to be away from steep slopes, start zones, and the runouts of avalanche paths as the upper snowpack thaws and becomes wet. Surface melt may occur earlier this morning than it did yesterday. Small sluffs coming from rocky areas, or your boots sinking deeply into mushy snow are warning signs that wet snow avalanches are becoming likely. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Likely
    Taille
    1–2.5

    An early and rapid rise in temperatures today combined with warm light winds and clear skies means that the upper snowpack will recover from a solid overnight freeze. Watch for rollerballs and small sluffs on steep slopes as a sign that wet snow avalanches are quickly becoming a hazard. Rocky chutes, vegetated slopes, and areas with shallow snow cover will be the most concerning. Plan your day to be off of and out from under steep slopes as the surface thaws causing you to sink into deep wet snow. Changing aspects or moving to lower-angled slopes without overhead hazards are good strategies to manage your exposure. 

    (4/13/2023)

    Loose wet avalanches

    Photo: Aaron Jones

Avalanche Discussion

Observers that summited peaks above 12,000 feet yesterday noticed that northerly aspects still held cold, wind-packed winter snow. They also noted east aspects above treeline were ripe for human-triggered wet loose avalanches around noon. 

Snow surface temperatures bottomed out around 1 am and are rising thanks to warm air blowing over the snowpack. There may be a shorter window before conditions become mushy and unstable today. My suggestion? Get out there early. Enjoy another beautiful spring day.  Be back at the trailhead in flip-flops before the slush starts moving downhill.

Thursday, dog-sledders near Aspendell shared photos of loose wet debris that triggered a slab avalanche lower down on a west-facing slope. It is worth bearing in mind that with continued warming, slab avalanches may occur. These are more likely at the southern and northern ends of the forecast area and further from the Sierra Crest where meltwater is pooling and saturating soft layers of snow above buried crusts. Water continues to move through the snowpack even after daily temperatures reach their peak. Overhead hazards are something to consider if you’re traversing under avalanche paths to get back to the car in the afternoon.

Other Springtime hazards exist within warming terrain. Hard surfaces in the morning mean you may want sharp tools to ascend, and that falling could mean a long nasty slide. Large cornices perched overhead deserve a wide berth. Slopes under glide cracks are places to avoid. Be wary of drainages where snow bridges over creeks are starting to melt.

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