These observations document past conditions at a small and variable scale. They are not to be confused with an avalanche forecast. They come from a variety of sources. We can only vouch for the quality of those produced by the SAC forecasters and professional observers.

Date and time of observation or avalanche occurrence Location Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images Observation made by
03/16/2023 - 13:00
Avalanche Observation 		Polaris Bowl
Carson Pass Area 		Zero to 1" foot, ski, and track penetration due to knife hard crusts One of several recent avalanches. Alhtough a relatively small slope, this one did pile up high against trees and ran well into the trees Hard to say where the cornice ends and crown begins Another crown Debris piles in adjacent runouts Large cornices in the area Another large cornice Yet another large cornice Professional Observer
03/16/2023 - 12:58
Avalanche Observation 		Tallac
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Public
03/16/2023 - 12:30
Snowpack Observation 		Incline Lake Peak Surface hoar formed on many open slopes last night. Settlement cracks around trees indicated consolidation in the storm snow. ECTP 30 on a wind-loaded test slope adjacent to the cornice failure. Other large cornices still exist on Incline Lake Peak. A large crack existed between the remaining cornice pieces and the ridgeline. Car-sized blocks of cornice existed below the cornice failure - Photo by Emily Tidwell Debris from the cornice collapse extended 100 to 200 feet below the ridge. Looking down on the cornice failure. Forecaster
03/16/2023 - 12:15
Avalanche Observation 		Peak 8,426'
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Firm conditions on 6 inch thick P hard rain crust at 10 am. Two inches of surface wet snow on top of supportable crust on S aspect terrain at 12:15 pm near 7,500'. Natural avalanche from 3/14 - Hybrid wind slab/wet slab at 7,700' Additional wind slab/wet slab avalanches viewed in the distance looking down into Upper Pole Creek. Forecaster
03/16/2023 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Castle Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Cornice failure- D2 windslab. Note crack on ridge Shooting cracks near snow machine track and a number of avalanche deposits in background. Looking north from near summit of Castle Peak at toe of D3 r4 wind slab. Guide
Blackbird Mountain Guides
03/16/2023 - 01:30
Avalanche Observation 		Johnson Canyon
Donner Summit Area 		Cornice creeping Public
03/15/2023 - 17:45
Snowpack Observation 		Incline Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Public
03/15/2023 - 15:00
Snowpack Observation 		Deep Creek
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area 		Public
03/15/2023 - 12:30
Avalanche Observation 		Incline Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Cornice fall on NE aspect of Incline Peak Cornice fall on NE aspect of Incline Peak Cornice fall on NE aspect of Incline Peak Cornice fall on NE aspect of Incline Peak Cornice fall on NE aspect of Incline Peak Guide
Blackbird Mountain Guides
03/15/2023 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Observed from Sierra @ Tahoe
Echo Summit Area 		Public
03/15/2023 - 12:00
Avalanche Observation 		Tamarack Peak
Mount Rose Area 		Cornice collapse with wind slab avalanche in Hourglass Bowl failing sometime last night. Size D2. View from bottom of Hourglass avalanche: Up to 500' long and 75' wide. Multiple cornice collapses and wind slab avalanches partially covered by additional storm snow on the far East Ridge. In similar wind loaded terrain in Hourglass Bowl-ECTN with no signs of continued instability. Rain crust up to 8800' in this area covered by around 2'' of storm snow. At higher elevations, the rain crust was a heavy snow layer. The "Record Tree" on Tamarack Peak. At this location, current HS not up to April 2017-yet? Forecaster
03/15/2023 - 11:00
Avalanche Observation 		Elephants Back
Carson Pass Area 		A small wind slab avalanche, where an adjacent ECTP indicated continued instability My first ECT that indicated instability My second ECT that indicated instability An inch thick graupel layer just below the surface Cold snow above the supportable crust, with some graupel and surface hoar Debris from Frog Lake Ridge that crossed the Red Lake Rd. The path width at the road was 150ft, and debris ran well downhill of the road Professional Observer
03/15/2023 - 10:00
Avalanche Observation 		Ward Canyon
Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area 		Cornice failure + wet slab Numerous wet snow avalanches Wind Slab - top of Little AK Guide
Blackbird Mountain Guides
03/15/2023 - 09:43
Avalanche Observation 		Trestle Peak taken from Wolfe Estates
Donner Summit Area 		Trestle Peak 9:30am March 15 Public
03/15/2023 - 08:00
Avalanche Observation 		Corkscrew
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Public
03/14/2023 - 18:04
Avalanche Observation 		Mount Tallac
Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay) 		Crown around 8200-8500' on E-SE aspect where wet slide likely started after trigger from windslab avalanche in upper bowl. Looking up slide path Looking down lower 1000' of slide path Lots of damaged trees Public
03/14/2023 - 18:00
Avalanche Observation 		Truckee River Canyon Near Floriston
Outside of the Forecast Area 		Forecaster
03/14/2023 - 14:20
Avalanche Observation 		Carson Pass Area
Carson Pass Area 		Public
03/14/2023 - 12:04
Avalanche Observation 		Donner Peak
Donner Summit Area 		Public
03/14/2023 - 12:00
Snowpack Observation 		Sierra Buttes
Yuba Pass Area 		Public

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