Central Sierra Nevada

A couple of inches of surface wet snow are expected to form today on slopes with very direct sun exposure. Problematic avalanches remain unlikely. 

Normal caution

Maximum daytime air temperatures are expected to reach around 4 to 5 degrees warmer today than the past two days. Sunshine and above freezing air temperatures will allow for 1 to 3 inches of surface wet snow to form on SE-S-SW aspects with direct sun exposure. The most surface wet snow is expected below 8,500'. Less melt will occur at higher elevations and will be more limited to due S aspects. Slopes with indirect sun exposure will likely remain frozen all day. Small rollerballs are the maximum extent of wet now instability expected today. Avalanches are unlikely.

Make a plan with your partners that matches your collective skills and goals with today's snow conditions. Continue to use best-practice backcountry travel techniques. This includes trailhead transceiver checks and allowing only one person at a time to pass through avalanche terrain while keeping your partners in view.

Recent Observations:

• Snow surface conditions remain highly variable across the forecast area. Expect to encounter firm ice, firm snow, shallow soft snow, breakable crusts, and melt-freeze snow.
• A well-bonded and consolidated snowpack exists across nearly all aspects and elevations. Gradual near-surface faceting continues to weaken the top few inches of snow on open NW-N-NE aspects with wind protection.  A new snow load is needed on top of this developing weak layer before slab avalanche problems occur.