CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at all elevations today. Human triggered wind slab avalanches are likely on wind-loaded slopes and storm slab avalanches are possible in more sheltered locations. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Plan travel routes to avoid steep slopes where avalanche problems may exist. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. If areas receive more snow and higher snowfall rates than forecasted, more avalanche danger could exist. 

Very early this morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. From mid morning onwards, areas of MODERATE avalanche danger are expected at all elevations as loose wet avalanche problems develop in response to daytime warming. Instability will become increasingly widespread during the afternoon hours.

For most of today, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. Following arrival of the incoming storm, avalanche danger will increase to CONSIDERABLE during the evening and overnight hours at all elevations. Dangerous conditions will exist in the backcountry tonight and tomorrow with wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems expected.

Rapid warming caused by April sun and warm temperatures will cause the avalanche danger to rise to CONSIDERABLE today. Large human-triggered loose wet avalanches will be likely today if people venture onto slopes where wet snow exists. Natural loose wet avalanches will be possible. This warming will also weaken the lingering wind slabs making human-triggered wind slab avalanches possible. Avoid slopes where signs of warming or wet snow exist and slopes where wind slabs remain especially if they receive sunshine.   

MODERATE avalanche danger continues today at all elevations. Uncertainly exists in regards to the degree of loose wet avalanche problems today as well as lingering wind slab avalanche problems. Conservative decision making and conservative terrain selection are advised.

MODERATE avalanche danger continues at all elevations due to ongoing wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems. Human triggered avalanches are possible today. Natural avalanches are unlikely but not impossible in isolated areas. Identify and avoid areas of potential wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems. A small chance exists that a rapid warming situation could occur this afternoon.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists today due to lingering wind slabs and loose wet avalanche problems that will form as the sun comes out and the day warms up. This afternoon's sunshine and warming may also weaken the lingering wind slabs. Human-triggered avalanches large enough to cause problems for backcountry travelers are possible today. Wet slab avalanches should remain unlikely today, but they are not impossible. Avoid slopes where wet snow or wind slabs exist.

LOW avalanche danger early this morning will increase to MODERATE avalanche danger in response to daytime warming as the day progresses. Areas of loose wet avalanche problems are expected to develop on all aspects at all elevations today. Cornice collapse may continue to occur today, presenting an additional hazard to backcountry travelers.

General Spring Avalanche Statement

At the tail end of this historic winter, we have stopped issuing daily avalanche advisories for the 2016-2017 season. For more info explaining the chosen end date, click here. Avalanche activity will invariably occur this spring. Continued daily wet snow melt-freeze cycles and additional storm cycles will impact the forecast area. Some information and resources to aid in trip planning and decision making have been assembled on the advisory page.

Early season conditions update #2 - Regular avalanche advisories will begin later this fall.

Another storm system is expected to impact the forecast area Wednesday night and Thursday. Anyone participating in over snow travel in or near avalanche terrain needs to carry and properly use companion rescue gear a well as apply avalanche avoidance training. Mellow touring on snow covered forest roads is the best bet for on snow recreation at his time.

Early season conditions update #4

A deep slab avalanche problem has formed with human triggered avalanche activity in the Mount Rose portion of the forecast area. Feet of new snow continue to accumulate in some portions of the forecast area above 8,000' as the current storm progresses. Wind slab avalanche problems remain a concern area wide. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Large destructive avalanches are possible.

Early season conditions update #6

Normal caution is advised throughout the forecast area with useable snow above 8000'.  The potential exists for minor loose wet snow avalanches at all elevations today with the forecasted rain and above freezing temperatures.   The ongoing deep slab avalanche problem in the Mt. Rose area continues to decrease, although some uncertainty continues for high elevation terrain.  Practice safe travel protocols when in or near avalanche terrain.

Early season conditions update #8

Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcounrty. Rain, snow, and wind during the storm on Sunday and Monday could allow wind slabs, possible storm slab, or minor loose wet instabilities to form in some areas where enough snow accumulates. Near and above treeline terrain holds the best potential for these areas of instability especially in areas where significant wind-loading occurs. These instabilities should diminish during the week as the weather calms down.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. Small wind slabs could form as winds increase today and tomorrow. Normal caution is appropriate for travel in and around avalanche terrain throughout the forecast area.

Moderate avalanche danger will exist today as additional snow accumulates with strong to gale force winds.  Human triggered avalanches are possible.  Wind slabs will be possible in near treeline and above treeline terrain.  Storm slabs will be possible in near treeline and below treeline terrain in areas that receive the most storm snow.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, identify and avoid features of concern.

MODERATE avalanche danger will continue to exist in near and above treeline terrain due to new wind slabs created by the strong NE winds and older wind slabs leftover from the recent storm. Human triggered avalanches remain possible. Identify where wind slabs exist and avoid steep wind-loaded terrain. Firm, scoured, or icy surfaces could also exist on exposed near and above treeline terrain.

MODERATE danger continues in near and above treeline terrain where hard wind slabs exist above older weaker snow. While these hard slabs may be difficult to trigger, human-triggered avalanches remain possible. If these slabs do break, they would likely fail above the trigger or after that person committed to the slope. Identify where wind slabs exist and avoid them. Firm or icy surfaces where arresting a fall would be challenging also exist on some exposed near and above treeline terrain.

Hard wind slabs continue to pose a difficult to trigger avalanche problem keeping MODERATE avalanche danger ongoing in some near and above treeline areas. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW. These near and above treeline wind slabs are very dense and could allow a person to travel well out onto the slab, becoming fully committed to the slope prior to avalanche occurrence. It is also plausible that several to numerous individuals could travel a slope before the snowpack fails.

Low avalanche danger continues throughout the forecast area at all elevations.  Isolated hard wind slabs in near treeline and above treeline terrain represent an unlikely, but not impossible avalanche problem.  Look for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations today. Triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. Continue to assess the snowpack and terrain, and travel carefully in the backcountry. Watch for lingering unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. On a regional scale, triggering an avalanche is unlikely. Signs of isolated, difficult to trigger instability linger near and above treeline. Normal caution is advised.

Low avalanche danger continues throughout the forecast region.  Normal caution is advised.  Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features at all elevations .

LOW avalanche danger will continue today. While triggering an avalanche remains unlikely, following safe travel protocols when in and around avalanche terrain remains a prudent choice. A winter storm forecasted to move into the area tonight and tomorrow will cause the avalanche danger to increase tomorrow and human triggered wind slab and storm slab avalanches may become an issue. If the storm moves in faster than expected, the avalanche danger could increase tonight. 

MODERATE avalanche danger exists in near and above treeline terrain due to yesterday's lingering wind slabs and today's newly formed wind slabs. Small loose dry avalanches could also occur on steep slopes where loose unconsolidated surface snow exists in more sheltered terrain. Human triggered avalanches remain possible today. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify areas where avalanche problems exist; and avoid those areas.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. Human triggering of avalanches is unlikely. Use the equipment and travel techniques associated with Normal Caution to help minimize the consequences of encountering an unexpected area of unstable snow.

The avalanche danger remains LOW across the forecast area. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry and watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features especially in areas where small wind slabs exist on top of weaker snow. 

While avalanches remain unlikely in most areas, the avalanche danger has increased to MODERATE due to a weakening snowpack allowing persistent slab problems to exist in specific areas. Human-triggered avalanches may be possible today in terrain with the right combination of a slab layer resting on top of a persistent weak layer of loose weak snow. This combination does not exist everywhere. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify where slabs may exist on top of a persistent weak layer.

Avalanche danger is MODERATE for all elevations. In isolated areas, the snowpack has weakened to the point that human triggered avalanches are now possible. Have a group discussion highlighting how managing a persistent slab avalanche problem is different from managing a wind slab avalanche problem. Adjust terrain selection and travel tactics accordingly.

While avalanche activity is unlikely in most areas, the snowpack continues to weaken and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches remain possible in isolated areas where a slab layer exists above loose weak sugary snow (facets). As a result, the avalanche danger remains at MODERATE at all elevations. Identify and avoid areas where a slab layer exists on top of the persistent weak layer of faceted snow. 

MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations today due to isolated persistent slabs in areas where a slab layer exists above loose weak snow and rain on snow creating loose wet instabilities. Human-triggered avalanches will be possible today. While most avalanches should remain small, the shallow snowpack and numerous exposed obstacles can provide large consequences for any size avalanche. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Identify where instabilities may exist and avoid those areas in favor of less steep slopes.

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at all elevations due to a combination of loose wet, wind slab, and persistent slab avalanche problems. Intentionally choose terrain, evaluate slope aspect(s) for the presence or absence of avalanche problems, identify likely areas of triggering, and evaluate avalanche consequences in terms of potential size and down slope hazards. Determine how much you really know based on actual data vs what is a guess or pre-bias. If in doubt, make a more conservative choice.

As more snow, rain, and wind impact the forecast area over the next 24 hours, human-triggered avalanches will be likely and natural avalanches will be possible especially later today and during the night. Avalanche problems include persistent slabs, loose wet avalanches, and wind slabs. CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will exist at all elevations. Avalanches could involve enough snow to bury a person. Dangerous avalanche conditions will exist across the forecast area.

Moderate avalanche danger exists throughout the forecast area due to persistent slab and wind slab avalanche problems.  Human triggered avalanches are possible today.  Persistent slab avalanches will be possible at all elevations and wind slab avalanches will be possible in near and above treeline terrain.  Heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. On a regional scale, triggering an avalanche has become unlikely. Localized, isolated areas of instability may still exist where a human triggered persistent slab or wind slab avalanche could occur. Identify the specific avalanche problem that may exist in the desired area of travel and take appropriate steps to manage it.

Triggering an avalanche has become unlikely on a regional scale; however, some unstable snow may still exist in isolated areas due to lingering persistent slab issues.  Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. Investigate the snowpack and determine if the area you want to travel in is one of those isolated places where the persistent slab problem may still linger. If so or if you don't have enough data for a clear answer, chose a different area. 

While the avalanche danger should remain LOW today due to the minimal snow accumulation expected, unstable snow may still exist in isolated areas due to lingering persistent slabs or very small pockets of newly formed wind slabs. If observations indicate that an isolated area of unstable snow may exist, choose different terrain. If more snow falls than forecasted, larger avalanche problems could exist and the avalanche danger could increase to MODERATE.

Low avalanche danger will continue to exist throughout most of the day.  As the approaching winter storm impacts our region late this afternoon/evening, avalanche danger will begin to increase.  By this evening, considerable avalanche danger will exist.  Wind slab, storm slab, and persistent slab avalanche problems will become likely during the evening and overnight hours.  Natural avalanche activity is likely and dangerous avalanche conditions will exist.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists near treeline and below treeline due to isolated areas of a persistent slab avalanche problem. Any isolated human triggered persistent slab avalanches could be large with significant consequences. Above treeline, avalanche danger is LOW.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations due to newly formed wind slabs and unlikely but not impossible persistent slab avalanche problems lingering in isolated areas. In the unlikely event that an isolated human-triggered persistent slab avalanche does occur, it could be large with significant consequences.

Moderate avalanche danger will exist for most of today due to a wind slab avalanche problem.  Human triggered wind slabs will be possible in near treeline and above treeline terrain.  After the onset of snowfall this afternoon, avalanche danger will quickly rise to considerable due to wind slab, storm slab, and deep persistent slab avalanche problems.  Dangerous avalanche conditions will exist.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists above and below treeline due to a combination of wind slab and persistent slab avalanche problems. Significant uncertainly exists regarding the persistent slabs due to a change in weak layer of concern, isolated distribution, and a lack of data. Do not let an absence of signs of instability below treeline create a sense of security that discounts the possibility of an isolated avalanche problem.

The avalanche danger remains MODERATE due to old and new wind slabs in near and above treeline terrain. Some loose wet avalanches may become possible as the day warms up.  Unlikely but not impossible persistent slabs may also linger in below treeline areas, especially in the Carson Pass region. 

As the day warms up, the avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE due to the potential for loose wet avalanches.  A few isolated persistent slabs may also linger on some near and below treeline slopes, especially in the Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass areas. 

Low avalanche danger exists throughout the forecast area.  Normal caution is advised.  Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations. Isolated areas of unstable snow will form today. Loose wet is the avalanche problem to look for and avoid. Slab avalanches are very unlikely today on a regional scale.

LOW avalanche danger will exist at all elevations today. Daytime warming may allow some small loose wet avalanche problems to form on some isolated sun-exposed terrain features where snow coverage exists.

Low avalanche danger exists throughout the forecast area at all elevations.  Normal caution is advised.  As daytime warming occurs, small loose wet instabilities may form on isolated terrain features.

LOW avalanche danger continues for all elevations. Minor loose wet instabilities may form in response to daytime warming. Normal caution is advised.