Avalanche danger reported extreme

Avalanche danger is extreme on most aspects of Sierra peaks, according to a warning issued by the Sierra Avalanche Center this morning.

According to the report issued this morning, there is an extreme danger of avalance on northwest, north, northeast, east and southeast aspects. Avalanche danger is high on south, southwest and west aspects, thanks to the variable wet weather from Friday and Saturday.

A combination of heavy snow, rain, high winds and a widespread weak layer of buried surface frost will cause large natural and human triggered avalanches.

Highway 88 is closed due to avalanche controls between 2.25 miles east of Silver Lake and Kirkwood.

According to the center report, 10 inches of light snow fell during the day on Friday and another 6-12 inches of heavy snow fell on top of that Friday night. That precipitation fell on top of a layer of surface frost, which creates a weak layer in the snowpack. That layer can't support the heavy snow, rain and wind slabs that fell on top of it. That means people can trigger avalanches on lower angle terrain, in open trees and even remotely on nearby slopes from somewhere that seems safe, like a meadow.

For more information, visit www.sierraavalanchecenter.org