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
04/09/2023 - 10:30

Avalanche Observation
Angora Peak

Echo Summit Area
Public
04/08/2023 - 14:42

Avalanche Observation
Andesite Ridge

Donner Summit Area
Natural wet loose avalanche seen from Andesite Ridge Educator

Blackbird Mountain Guid
04/08/2023 - 13:00

Avalanche Observation
Johnson Canyon

Donner Summit Area
Wet loose avalanches occurring on the North Side of Donner Peak by 1pm. Corniced ridgeline of Powerline Peak with only small and previous collapses by noon. Shin deep boot pen wet snow at 11am. Guide

Tahoe Mountain Scho
04/08/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Alpine Meadows

Five Lakes Area
Public
04/08/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Red Lake Peak

Carson Pass Area
Cloud cover prevented significant surface wetting prior to noon Previous sastrugi might be transitioning to sun cups soon. Most of our descent was ideally smooth Professional Observer
04/08/2023 - 11:30

Snowpack Observation
Slide Mountain

Mount Rose Area
Crusts in the upper snowpack on a micro SE aspect at 9320 Trace of wintry new snow warming on solar aspects Public
04/08/2023 - 11:30

Avalanche Observation
Tamarack Peak

Mount Rose Area
Public
04/08/2023 - 10:50

Snowpack Observation
Relay Peak

Mount Rose Area
Natural rollerballs off of rocks on Slab Cliffs, E aspect at around 9,500' at 10:50 am. Natural rollerballs off of trees on far southern Relay Peak, E aspect at around 9,700' at 11:45 am. I ski cut and traversed several wind loaded test slopes today, this was the only one I was able to create a fracture on. Forecaster
04/08/2023 - 10:00

Snowpack Observation
Flagpole Peak

Echo Summit Area
Looking up at Flagpole Peak. There is a several hundred foot long wet slide off the rock buttress to the left of Flagpole Peak that appeared to have happened yesterday. Checking ski penetration vs boot penetration on an open south east aspect at about 6600 feet at 9:30AM. ~ 1 cm ski pen and 10 cms boot pen On NE open aspect at about 6700' at 9:35 there was crust that was mostly breakable to boot pen (5 cm boot pen) but totally supportable to ski pen. In the trees at the base of Flagpole at about 9:45, snow was mushy and boot pen was ~ 20 cms with ~4 cm ski pen. Classic dark rock wet loose activity near the base of Flagpole from yesterday. The rarely seen melt freeze reverse skin track. Very little new snow accumulated on Flagpole. This was one of the deeper areas I encountered with 1-2 inches. Looking towards Ralston and Pyramid. The old large crowns on Ralston are still quite visible. This is about 100 feet below the summit and the old skin track highway from yesterday is still visible. Some shallow loose wet slide activity as a result of a ski turn at 11:00AM. Professional Observer
04/08/2023 - 08:30

Avalanche Observation
Mt. Tallac

Desolation Wilderness Area (including Emerald Bay)
Public
04/07/2023 - 12:00

Avalanche Observation
Hidden Peak

West Shore Area
Shallow wet loose avalanche in NE aspect terrain at 7,800'. Shallow wet loose avalanche in NE aspect terrain at 7,800'. Unreactive wind slab along the summit ridge. Large settlement cones indicating the the snowpack continues to settle faster than ongoing snowfall adds to HS. Forecaster
04/06/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Job's Sister

Luther Pass Area (including Job and Freel)
Looking uphill at the debris Looking downhill at the debris Public
04/06/2023 - 12:00

Snowpack Observation
Johnson Canyon

Donner Summit Area
Ski kicks triggered shallow ski width wide sluffs of wet snow at 11:30 am on a SE aspect. Roller balls and pinwheels on an E-NE aspect at noon. Large cornices along ridges looking towards Frog Lake. ECTN on a NE-facing wind-loaded test slope. Forecaster
04/06/2023 - 11:00

Snowpack Observation
Angora Peak

Echo Summit Area
Absolutely gigantic cornices on Echo Peak Shallow warming on a steep SE slope at 11:00AM. Soft not quite corn on the surface over a firm crust skied well On a more easterly aspect there was impressive evidence of previous avalanche activity. The most roller ball activity we observed was on a NE slope around 1:45pm. Looking back towards Desolation and the coverage is very impressive. Professional Observer
04/05/2023 - 13:00

Snowpack Observation
Castle Peak

Donner Summit Area
A cornice piece dropped on this sunny SE-facing slope produced a small wind-slab failure mixed with a sluff of wet snow. These cornice pieces caused a small sluff of wet snow on the slope below. Scoured and wind-sculpted surfaces on the ridge and on NW aspects. ECTN on a wind-loaded N-facing test slope. The upper snowpack was a mix of wet snow, melt-freeze crusts, and still cold dry snow. Surface hoar had started to flatten amd melt on sunny slopes by 3 pm. Forecaster

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