Central Sierra Nevada

A lack of old soft snow and limited new snow accumulation should keep most avalanche activity unlikely today despite the continued gale-force winds. Pay attention to changing conditions as you travel. Use caution on steep slopes if blowing snow is occurring and wind drifted snow has accumulated. 

Normal caution

Less than an inch of new snow fell overnight in most places. Melt-freeze crusts exist on many windward aspects. In addition, the forecast calls for less than an inch of new snow to accumulate today. With these factors limiting the amount of snow available for transport, significant wind slab formation should remain unlikely even though the gale-force winds will continue through today. A few drifts of snow may form near ridges in areas that get the most new snow, but these should remain small and not extend very far from the ridges. If more snow falls than forecasted, then some wind slabs may form near ridges. 

Keep an eye out for changing conditions. If you see signs of wind slab formation like blowing snow or wind drifted snow move around these areas with caution. Gale force winds and variable snow surfaces will also impact backcountry travel today. Talk with your group before you head out and make a plan targeting terrain and conditions that match your group's skills and goals. 

Recent Observations

• Snowmelt on SE-S-SW aspects has exposed bare ground in many areas. Over snow travel options are limited on these aspects.
• We are continuing to monitor the old near surface facet layer that was buried on Feb 14. There appear to be isolated pockets in well shaded areas on NW-N-NE aspects where this layer may still be able to collapse and propagate once a new snow load or rain is added. There are a couple of storms in the forecast over the next week that might be able to add enough new loading to create an avalanche problem of isolated distribution on this weak layer.