Central Sierra Nevada

Warm temperatures will allow for some snow surface softening in wind protected and lower elevation terrain.  Increasing winds today will continue to keep many exposed and higher elevation terrain firm and icy.  Avalanches remain unlikely throughout the forecast area.

Normal caution

Sunny skies and warm temperatures will form wet surface snow on SE-S-SW aspects as daytime warming occurs in wind protected and lower elevation areas.  Loose wet instabilities today are expected to be minor, but some roller balls could occur on terrain around rocks and gully features with direct sun exposure.  Forecasted strong NE/E winds will keep the snow surface firm and frozen all day in wind exposed and higher elevation terrain above 8500'.  Expect to find variable snow conditions on other aspects.  Avalanche activity remains unlikely.

Come up with a plan before heading out into the backcountry.  This plan should choose appropriate terrain for the current conditions and the goals, skills, and abilities of the group.  Everyone in the group should carry avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, probe, and shovel) and know how to use them.  Practice safe travel techniques by choosing routes out of avalanche terrain, exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain, and regrouping out of avalanche terrain.

Recent Observations:

• An increasing amount of bare ground has emerged on southerly aspects over the past two weeks.
• Snow surface conditions remain highly variable across the forecast area. Expect to encounter firm ice, rough wind sculpted snow, firm wind-packed 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 has substantially weakened the top portion of the snowpack on most 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.