Avalanche Warning for backcountry in Sierra into Sunday
Submitted by paula on Sat, 01/13/2024 - 1:39pm
The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued a "high avalanche danger" warning for the backcountry for Saturday and Sunday. Their warning is in effect from 7 a.m. Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday.
The warning is for the central Sierra Nevada between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. This does not include ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist.
The new high-density snowfall combined with gale-force winds will load already problematic weak layers buried in the snowpack. Snowpack failure may occur deep within the existing snowpack and result in widespread avalanche activity in the mountains. Large avalanches could occur in a variety of backcountry areas.
Traveling in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Follow the Sierra Avalanche Center for more information, https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/.