The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.
![](https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/sites/all/themes/sac/img/fslogo.png)
The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.
![]() |
March 27, 2013 at 6:35 am |
Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. |
|
![]() |
Observations made yesterday on Tamarack Peak (Mount Rose area) revealed well established melt-freeze conditions on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Northerly aspects held pockets of cold unconsolidated snow around 4-5 inches deep left over from the last storm cycle. Evidence of a decent overnight refreeze of the surface snow was evident in the areas traveled on E-SE-S aspects between 8,600' and 9,500'. At noon, these slopes held 0.5 to 1.5 inches of wet surface snow over supportable melt-freeze crust.
Snowpit tests were performed that targeted an old near crust facet layer that exists within the top foot of the snowpack on northerly aspects in this area. This layer showed characteristics for likely propagation back on March 22nd. Test results from yesterday indicated that propagation along this layer in now very unlikely and that significant stabilization had occurred over the previous 4 days (pit profile, more info).
Avalanche Problem #1: Loose Wet Avalanches
Patchy cloud cover last night is expected to have created some variance in the strength of overnight snow surface refreeze. In areas with less cloud cover, a strong overnight refreeze is expected to have occurred. In areas with more cloud cover, a weaker marginal overnight refreeze may have occurred. Mid and high level cloud cover again today will serve to slow the rate of snow surface melt. While small amounts of wet surface snow are likely to form today on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, natural and human triggered loose wet snow avalanches are unlikely. Very isolated areas of locally greater avalanche danger could form in areas where a marginal snow surface refreeze occurred last night and prolonged sun breaks occur today.
0600 temperature: | 27 to 33 deg. F. |
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 32 to 39 deg. F. |
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | Southwest |
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 26 mph |
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 42 mph |
New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | 0 to trace inches |
Total snow depth: | 49 to 85 inches |
For 7000-8000 ft: |
|||
Wednesday: | Wednesday Night: | Thursday: | |
Weather: | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers. |
Temperatures: | 41 to 48 deg. F. | 25 to 30 deg. F. | 40 to 46 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | SW | SW | SW |
Wind speed: | 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. | 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. | 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. |
Expected snowfall: | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. |
For 8000-9000 ft: |
|||
Wednesday: | Wednesday Night: | Thursday: | |
Weather: | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers. |
Temperatures: | 32 to 42 deg. F. | 22 to 29 deg. F. | 32 to 41 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | SW | SW | SW |
Wind speed: | 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. | 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph. | 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. |
Expected snowfall: | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. |
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.