This avalanche advisory is provided through a partnership between the Tahoe National Forest and the Sierra Avalanche Center. This advisory covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south. Click here for a map of the forecast area. This advisory applies only to backcountry areas outside established ski area boundaries. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. This advisory expires 24 hours after the posted time unless otherwise noted. The information in this advisory is provided by the USDA Forest Service who is solely responsible for its content.

This advisory was posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 4:41 pm

Well, it snowed a little bit yesterday and it looks like we may get some more through the weekend especially in the northern part of the forecast area. It is a start and hopefully more snow will soon follow. Even though we don't have enough data or snow to start issuing advisories, we are still getting out to look at what snow we do have. Right now there is snow cover above 9500' on all aspects, with pockets around 1 foot deep on the north side of the ridges. The south facing slopes hold very shallow snow cover and are crusting up. On the north facing slopes, the snow extends to lower elevations especially in the wind loaded areas. The snow on the north facing slopes is also starting to weaken. Brandon was out on Tamarak Peak in the Mount Rose area (we will try to post the pit data to the forums) on Saturday and saw lots of surface hoar and facets developing within the shallow snowpack on the north aspects. These weak snow grains may turn into potential failure layers as we get more snow.

Remember if you can make turns or ride a snowmobile, there is enough snow to slide. Start dusting off those safe travel skills that will keep you safe this winter. Even though anything that slides right now is likely to be small; you probably won't be expecting it. Even in a shallow snowpack, the consequences could be big. There is not much to keep you from hitting rocks, stumps, or anything else that might be just below the surface. Small slides can also knock you off your feet and push you into streams or over cliffs. Also watch out for those terrain traps where even a small amount of snow can pile up deep. It does not take much to fill up a narrow gully.

If you are out, be careful and watch out for all those just barely covered, knee-breaking obstacles. Also, please send us an email if you see anything interesting lurking in our snowpack.

Brandon Schwartz and Andy Anderson, Avalanche Forecasters

We plan to begin issuing regular avalanche advisories in late November as conditions warrant.

The bottom line:

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

Weather Observations from along the Sierra Crest between 8200 ft and 8800 ft:

0600 temperature:	deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.