Central Sierra Nevada

Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely. It is possible to find soft snow in shaded terrain, spring-like conditions on sun exposed slopes, and poor snow quality conditions interspersed within many areas. If you see any signs of unstable snow or unwanted conditions, choose a different route.

Normal caution

Expect variable snow surfaces, and plan your travel accordingly by targeting zones that give options for travel on different aspects so that you can find the best of what's out there. Avalanches remain unlikely today across the forecast area. Increased SW winds exist today. Areas of blowing and drifting snow are unlikely to occur. If you see any signs of unstable snow, such as snow surface cracking, or encounter unexpected or unwanted conditions, switch to one of your other terrain options.

Snow surface conditions run the spectrum from dry to wet and soft to firm. Expect to encounter frozen snow surfaces on all aspects this morning in lower elevation areas. Soft, faceted snow exists on the surface in many shaded areas at mid to upper elevations. Melt-freeze conditions exist on sunny slopes. Today's increased SW winds and cloud cover may drastically limit the amount of snow surface melt that occurs today on southerly aspects. Snow cover loss on southerly aspects has accelerated over the past week.

A wide variety of undesirable snow surface conditions are often encountered in heavily trafficked areas, under forest canopy, and along the boundaries of sun exposed vs shaded snow surfaces.

Deep open holes, open creeks, and ponded water are prevalent in low-lying areas, especially below 8,000'. These hazards also exist in isolated distribution at higher elevations.