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 Media Observation made by
03/26/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Meiss

Carson Pass Area
Convective clouds produced 2" of new snowfall A test slope that didn't propagate wide, but ran downhill into low angle terrain A test slope that propagated wider than expected, but didn't run far downhill Graupel above firm snow, not reactive to ECTs but a PST indicated propagation was likely Professional Observer
03/26/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Blue Lakes

Carson Pass Area
North facing surface hoar, 8300 feet Public
03/26/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Incline Lake Peak

Mount Rose Area
Cornice pieces dropped on wind-loaded test slopes did not produce additional signs of instability. ECTN on a wind-loaded test slope with buried graupel and surface hoar. Ski cuts on a sheltered N facing test slope that had previously avalanched cause last night's snow to sluff off of the firm old snow surface. A previous avalanche covered up by last night's 2-4 inches of snow on a sheltered N facing test slope. Cloud cover starting to build around 1:30 pm. Forecaster
03/27/2023 - 11:30

Avalanche Observation
Isolated Convexity between Little Alaska and Twin Peaks

Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Public
03/27/2023 - 11:45

Snowpack Observation
Mt. Judah

Donner Summit Area
Cracking only when undercut of a section of 4F to 1F hardness slab over F hard graupel. ECTN results on multiple graupel layers. CTN result on buried surface hoar. Some minor cornice failure entraining 1 inch of surface snow. Forecaster
03/27/2023 - 12:20

Avalanche Observation
Tallac East Bowl North and Cross

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Public
03/27/2023 - 15:00

Snowpack Observation
The Nipple

Carson Pass Area
Unstable test results three days after the avalanche, and current wind loading Professional Observer
03/27/2023 - 15:30

Avalanche Observation
Cindercone

Blackwood Canyon or Ward Canyon Area
Public
03/28/2023 - 11:30

Avalanche Observation
Lincoln Ridge

Yuba Pass Area
Small reactive wind slab failures.  Small reactive wind slab failures on test slopes. Small wind slab avalanche on small slope near ridgeline. Intense blowing snow in near treeline terrain. Cracking around skis on uptrack showing storm slab instability. ECTN on layers down to the March 14 rain layer. Forecaster
03/28/2023 - 16:45

Avalanche Observation
Echo Peak

Echo Summit Area
Public
03/29/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Blue Lakes

Carson Pass Area
Previous and current winds were sculpting the surface snow The grey stripe is a light crust with weak snow next to it Surface hoar remaining intact and reactive to snowpack tests Surface hoar remaining intact and reactive to snowpack tests Wind loaded test slopes did not produce results Professional Observer
03/29/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Powderhouse Peak

Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Small sluff on a steep above tree line test slope Small crack on undercut above tree line test slope Hard to see in the photo, but there is a large crown in center of image on north bowl of Stevens Peak Multiple tracks along the corniced summit ridge but I didn't observe any cracks or slabs triggered There were a couple incredibly deep tree wells next to the skin track. Professional Observer
03/29/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Silver Peak

Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
when I stepped onto this wind-loaded area on a low angle slope, I triggered shooting cracks the traveled 20+ ft out onto the larger slope. Skier triggered cracking in a wind-loaded test slope. Blowing snow refilled our tracks on the ridge after about an hour. The weather oscillated between snow showers and calm periods with breaks of sun. Some cracking that occured in a sheltered area where the thin sun crust below the new snow broke and collapsed on softer snow below it. Forecaster
03/29/2023 - 13:07

Snowpack Observation
Near Webber lake

Little Truckee Summit Areas
Public
03/30/2023 - 10:10

Avalanche Observation
Tallac

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Public

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