Backcountry Avalanche Forecast
Central Sierra Nevada
This product is expired.
- Issued
- Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - 6:45AM
- Expires
- Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 6:45AM
- Author
- Steve Reynaud
The Bottom Line
A weak and shallow snowpack exists below the recent storm snow we received last week. Where strong wind blown or consolidated snow sits on top of this weak snow, avalanches remain possible. Early season conditions with rocky and shallow snowpack areas continue throughout the forecast region.
Avalanche Danger
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Above Treeline2 - Moderate
Near Treeline2 - Moderate
Below Treeline2 - Moderate
 1 - Low |  2 - Moderate |  3 - Considerable |  4 - High |  5 - Extreme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Advice | Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. | Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. | Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential. | Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended. | Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain. |
| Likelihood of Avalanches | Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. | Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. | Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. | Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. | Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. |
| Avalanche Size and Distribution | Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain. | Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas. | Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas. | Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas. | Very large avalanches in many areas. |
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions.
It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.