Bulletin d’avalanche

Central Sierra Nevada

Sierra Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
1 · Faible
Limite forestière
1 · Faible
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 2 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Stiff slabs of wind drifted snow may remain unstable in isolated areas. Locations in or adjacent to chutes, couloirs, cliff bands, or other forms of complex terrain have the greatest potential to hold isolated areas of unstable snow. In the big picture, avalanches are unlikely on a regional scale.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

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

    We are finally getting a break from the NE winds today, but they will return tomorrow. Ridgetop winds are forecast to shift to the W today, changing the distribution pattern of blowing and drifting snow. Yesterday's strong NE winds were observed to continue to drift snow in several locations around the forecast area, but problematic new wind slab formation was not observed.

    As winds shift to the W and increase in speed today, some blowing and drifting snow is expected. This will slightly fill in new areas that were previously scoured over the past several days. Expect to encounter stiff slabs of wind-blown snow on a variety of aspects near ridgetops, in gullies, and near other wind-exposed terrain features.

    For the most part, stiff wind slabs that formed over the last few days have had time to stabilize. Isolated areas of unstable snow may linger, or new ones may form today, especially in and around various forms of complex terrain including chutes, couloirs, and cliff areas. Any avalanches that are triggered by backcountry travelers today are expected to be small, with much of the consequences coming from being carried into or over down slope hazards such as rocks, trees, or cliffs.

    Clues exist to help identify where unstable wind slabs may linger. These include blowing snow, new cornices, deposits of wind-drifted snow, stiff wind-packed snow, and lightly rippled snow surfaces. Look for cracking in wind-blown snow as a sign of unstable wind slabs in the immediate area.

    Expect to see more blowing and drifting snow today, with very little in the way of new wind slab formation. 

    Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center from 01/07/2025, Tragedy Springs area, CA

Avalanche Discussion

The recent strong to gale force winds scoured away snow from near and above treeline areas on a variety of aspects. This left behind a mix of wind-sculpted features and firm ice. If your travel plans take you into alpine terrain near exposed ridges, gullies, and open areas, expect to find variable snow surface conditions. Traveling in wind protected areas such as heavily forested slopes below treeline can help reduce exposure to today's avalanche problem and lead to softer, more consistent snow.

A significant warming cycle is expected today, leading to some wet surface snow formation across SE-S-SW aspects in sun exposed, wind protected areas. Some shallow sluffs of wet surface snow might be triggered today in steep terrain by backcountry travelers, but problematic wet loose avalanches are unlikely.

Régions couvertes