Avalanche Advisory: Thursday - Feb 13, 2020 | Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Avalanche Problem 1: Normal Caution

Type ?

Sunny skies and very light winds will lead to surfacing softening on sunny aspects (notably SE-S-SW) as they warm today from the sun. The snow on these slopes have become well adjusted to this freeze-thaw cycle, and without significantly warmer temperatures and higher sun angles loose wet instabilities will remain unconcerning. The “thaw” will offer improved riding conditions if the timing is right. Firm and variable conditions abound in unsheltered areas, making the biggest threat still a fall that would be difficult to self arrest. Use proper tools such as ski crampons, crampons and ice ax, and most importantly good judgement.

advisory discussion

It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten any appreciable snowfall. Periods of extreme winds from every direction over the past month and a half have led to a moon-scape on exposed slopes of cratered sastrugi snow to firm and breakable windboards. Our shallow snowpack is hanging on .. in some places better than others. More southerly aspects tend to be smoother, but pose their own dangers of even more obstacles and frozen firm surfaces if the timing is off. Facets continue to form, and in more sheltered shady areas softer snow can still be found.

recent observations

Submit Snowpack Observations

Submit Avalanche Observations

-2/12 - Mammoth - Sherwins: Snowpack conditions.

-2/12 - Mammoth - Backside: Surface softening on sunny aspects.

-2/11 - June - Chicken Wing: Conditions.

-2/11 - Mammoth - Mammoth Crest: Wind effects.

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS

weather summary

High pressure ridging continues. We’re in store for another sunny dry day today with high temperatures reaching the upper 30s F around 10,000’, and light winds even at ridge tops. This will continue until a small chance of flurries arrives on Sunday, with increasing SW winds as a precursor on Saturday.

Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS

For 8,000 ft. to 10,000 ft.

	Thursday	Thursday Night	Friday
Weather:	Sunny. Snow levels below 7000 feet. Chance of precipitation is 0%.	Clear. Snow levels 7000 feet decreasing to below 7000 feet after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 0%.	Sunny. Snow levels below 7000 feet. Chance of precipitation is 0%.
Temperatures:	39 to 49. deg. F.	17 to 22. deg. F.	37 to 47. deg. F.
Mid Slope Winds:	Light winds.	Southwest around 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.	Southwest around 15 mph in the morning becoming light. Gusts up to 25 mph.
Expected snowfall:	0 in.	0 in.	0 in.

Over 10,000 ft.

	Thursday	Thursday Night	Friday
Weather:	Sunny. Snow levels below 7000 feet increasing to 7000 feet in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 0%.	Clear. Snow levels 7000 feet decreasing to below 7000 feet after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 0%.	Sunny. Snow levels below 7000 feet. Chance of precipitation is 0%.
Temperatures:	31 to 39. deg. F.	12 to 17. deg. F.	30 to 38. deg. F.
Ridge Top Winds:	Light winds becoming southwest around 15 mph in the afternoon.	Southwest 15 to 20 mph.	West around 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
Expected snowfall:	0 in.	0 in.	0 in.

Disclaimer

This Avalanche Advisory is designed to generally describe avalanche conditions where local variations always occur. This product only applies to backcountry areas located outside established ski area boundaries. The information in this Avalanche Advisory is provided by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center, who is solely responsible for its content.