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.
This Avalanche Advisory was published on February 11, 2011:
February 11, 2011 at 7:49 am | |
The avalanche danger should remain LOW on all elevations and aspects today. Please use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry. |
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Forecast Discussion:
The high pressure ridge will allow temperatures to continue to climb over the next few days. Daytime highs could reach into the upper 40's above 7000 ft today. This ridge will also keep the weather dry until it departs. The dry air and clear night skies should allow temperatures to continue falling below freezing at night as they have the last few nights. Light east winds should prevail today; however, they should start to shift towards the southwest and increase over the next 24 hours due to a large low pressure system approaching the region.
Yesterday, observations on Rose Knob Peak (photos) and on Silver Peak showed a mostly stable snowpack with a mix of melt-freeze conditions, wind scoured surfaces, breakable crusts, and some patches of softer snow. In both of these areas, only the most sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects warmed up enough for the melt-freeze crust to soften. What softening did occur in these areas was shallow and short-lived. Most slopes remained frozen all day. The exposed N-NE-E aspects near and above treeline held firm, uneven, wind-scoured surfaces in both areas. The patches of softer snow only remained on the more sheltered N aspects below treeline. As in other areas this week, stability tests and hand pits continued to show a strengthening trend in the snowpack. These tests and observations also showed that the weak sugary snow (facets) below the old crust has started to round and gain strength.
Avalanche Concerns:
Cold temperatures and a clear night sky should have allowed another very strong refreeze to occur last night. This refreeze combined with light east winds, weak February sunshine, and gradual warming this week should offset the fact that daytime highs could climb 5-10 degrees today and keep most wet snow instabilities at bay. Any wet snow instabilities that do form today should remain limited to roller balls and wet loose sluffs on the most sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects. If temperatures climb higher than forecasted, these instabilities could become larger and more widespread. Even though dangerous avalanche activity remains unlikely, it is not impossible. Continue to evaluate slopes carefully before committing to them and travel with caution in the backcountry.
The bottom line:
The avalanche danger should remain LOW on all elevations and aspects today. Please use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry.
Weather Observations from along the Sierra Crest between 8200 ft and 8800 ft:
0600 temperature: | 22-25 deg. F. |
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 32-40 deg. F. |
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | East and Northeast |
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 20-30 mph |
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 44 mph |
New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | O inches |
Total snow depth: | 58-85 inches |
Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast - Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS
For 7000-8000 ft: |
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Friday: | Friday Night: | Saturday: | |
Weather: | Sunny | Partly cloudy | Sunny |
Temperatures: | 44-50 deg. F. | 20-35 deg. F. | 42-50 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | East | South | Southwest |
Wind speed: | around 10 mph | 10-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph increasing to 35 mph after midnight | 20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph |
Expected snowfall: | O in. | O in. | O in. |
For 8000-9000 ft: |
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Friday: | Friday Night: | Saturday: | |
Weather: | Sunny | Partly cloudy | Sunny |
Temperatures: | 35-42 deg. F. | 28-40 deg. F. | 38-45 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | East | Southeast shifting to the south after midnight | Southwest |
Wind speed: | 10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph | 15-20 mph increasing to 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph after midnight | 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph increasing to 30-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph in the afternoon |
Expected snowfall: | O in. | O in. | O in. |