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Avalanche Forecast published on April 22, 2019 @ 6:19 am
Issued by
Brandon Schwartz - Tahoe National Forest
Bottom Line
How to read the ForecastGeneral Spring Avalanche Statement
We have closed shop for the 2018-2019 operating season after producing 145 avalanche forecasts. A big thanks to all who supported the avalanche center this season, making everything possible. Avalanche activity will invariably continue to occur this spring. Continued daily wet snow melt-freeze cycles will occur and additional storm cycles may impact the forecast area. Some information and resources to aid in trip planning and decision making have been assembled on the advisory page.
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Above Treeline
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Near Treeline
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Below Treeline
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
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Loose wet avalanche activity will continue to occur this spring on all aspects and at all elevations. The amount of instability and the rate of development will vary from day to day. Recent new snow under rapid warming will almost always be problematic.
Under established melt-freeze conditions of a week or more, the amount of day to day variance of loose wet instability will depend on the degree of overnight snow surface refreeze and the rate of daytime warming. Cloud cover overnight can greatly inhibit snow surface refreeze. Follow the NWS-Reno Backcountry Weather Forecast to identify periods of expected cloud cover and air temperature forecasts. GEOS West satellite imagery is useful for seeing how much cloud cover occurred overnight. Check the weather station table for a list of early morning air temperatures at various locations around the forecast area. If cloud cover was present and air temperatures were above freezing, overnight refreeze will be poor to nonexistent. If this is the case, travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Choose a different day.
If skies were clear the amount of refreeze will be related to air temperature. Near or slightly above freezing air temperatures under clear skies will allow for the top few inches of the snowpack to refreeze on open slopes. This superficial refreeze usually allows for a short period of good travel conditions during the early morning hours. When this is the case, the snow surface is often not refrozen in areas under forest canopy. A comparison of surface crust thickness on open slopes vs under thick forest canopy will give a good indication of the overall strength of snow surface refreeze in the area. The further and longer air temperatures drop below freezing overnight, the better the snow surface refreeze will be both on open slopes and under forest canopy.
Once melt makes the surface crust marginally supportable to unsupportable, loose wet avalanches are possible. Rollerballs and pinwheels are also a sign of potentially unstable snow. Avoid travel in or below avalanche terrain on slopes with deep or unsupportable wet snow conditions and on slopes where rollerballs/pinwheels are occurring.
Avalanche Problem 2: Wind Slab
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Natural and human triggered wind slab avalanches may occur during and immediately after any late season storms. Expect a period of snowpack instability during the storm itself, then a second cycle of avalanche activity as rapid warming occurs post storm.
During the storm, use clues such as blowing snow, cornice formation, and wind pillow formation to identify where potentially unstable wind slabs exist. Look for typical signs of mid winter instability such as recent avalanche activity, wind loading, collapse, audible whumpfing sounds, and/or shooting cracks. Identify and avoid avalanche terrain in areas where recently formed wind slabs exist.
Post storm, new snow will be very sensitive to rapid warming and incoming solar radiation. Newly formed wind slabs could be easy to trigger post storm during rapid warming.
Avalanche Problem 3: Wet Slab
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During periods of rapid warming after new late season snowfall, storm slabs and wind slabs can transition to wet slabs. The high sun angle in late April and May allows for significantly more incoming solar radiation to affect the snowpack on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects than what occurs during December, January, February, and March. If an active weak layer exists at the bottom of a recently formed storm slab or wind slab, rapid warming of the snow surface can increase the deformation rate of the slab adding additional stress to the weak layer below. This can cause an increase in snowpack instability. This is when natural avalanches can occur during periods of rapid warming post storm under sunny skies and light winds.
Forecast discussion
Other hazards besides avalanches exist for over snow travelers in the backcountry. A few of these are cornice fall, moats, glide cracks, and open creeks. Stay well back from abrupt edges along ridgelines as natural and human triggered cornice collapse remains possible this spring. Stay out from under cornice areas that are not well frozen, especially if you can see or hear water dripping from the cornice. Areas of weak snow around rocks, vegetation, and along the base of cliff bands exist. Move carefully around these features as the thin bridges of snow could collapse under body weight, allowing you to fall into a melted hole next to the feature. Exercise caution when traveling near or attempting to cross creeks as wet snow along the banks can collapse under the weight of a person. Take these additional hazards into account during route planning.
Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
weather summary
Check the NWS Reno Backcountry Weather Forecast. It also includes tabs to remote weather station data.
Click on the Weather Station map and table buttons below for info from additional specific weather stations.
CONDITIONS ALONG THE SIERRA CREST BETWEEN 8200 FT. AND 9200 FT. IN THE LAST 24 HOURS
| 6am temperature: | (Check the data on the SAC Weather Station Map link at left.) deg. F. |
| Max. temperature: | deg. F. |
| Average ridgetop wind direction: | |
| Average ridgetop wind speed: | mph |
| Maximum ridgetop wind gust: | mph |
| New snowfall: | inches |
| Total snow depth: | inches |
Disclaimer
This avalanche advisory is provided through a partnership between the Tahoe National Forest and the Sierra Avalanche Center. This advisory covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south. Click here for a map of the forecast area. This advisory applies only to backcountry areas outside established ski area boundaries. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This advisory expires 24 hours after the posted time unless otherwise noted. The information in this advisory is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.
For a recorded version of the Avalanche Advisory call (530) 587-3558 x258
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This website is owned and maintained by the non-profit arm of the Sierra Avalanche Center. Some of the content is updated by the USDA avalanche forecasters including the forecasts and some observational data. The USDA is not responsible for any advertising, fund-raising events/information, or sponsorship information, or other content not related to the forecasts and the data pertaining to the forecasts.