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, January 10, 2007 at 6:55 am

The winds shifted to the southwest and started to increase overnight. They will continue to gain strength today as a cold and dry front moves in. By this afternoon we could see gusts of 100mph along the ridgetops. The temperatures will also start to drop toady. The cooling trend will continue for the next couple of days with highs only reaching into the single digits at the upper elevations. There is only a small amount of moisture associated with this cold front, so snowfall totals for this storm will be limited to 1-3". By Thursday afternoon most of the snow and clouds will have cleared, leaving cold, clear, dry weather over the forecast area.

Warmer air temperatures at the upper elevations and clear sunny weather helped the melt freeze crusts become more pronounced on the SE-S-SW aspects yesterday. These weather conditions and warm overnight temperatures also destroyed most of surface hoar above 7500'. Between 6000' and 7500' on northerly aspects surface hoar continues to grow. Due to the low sun angles creating lots of shade, cool snow surface temperatures, and cooling air temperatures today, this surface hoar will probably be buried under a couple inches of snow tonight. This could pose a problem in the future because there will be a persistent weak layer in areas that most of us take for granted as the "approach" to the terrain above.

Even though it has been about a week since our last snowfall, there is still some wonderful consistent, unconsolidated snow on the the protected northerly aspects below treeline. Today would be a great day to get out an play on these slopes and to practice your avalanche rescue and beacon searching skills. There are "beacon basins" open at Kirkwood and Squaw. Above treeline there hard slabs mixed with wind scoured surfaces mixed with "glazed" icy surfaces at all aspects making for some "interesting" skiing and riding.

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects.

Andy Anderson , Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet):
28 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
40-45 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
westsouthwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
30 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
57 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours:
0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet:
40 inches
Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Clear this morning and becoming mostly cloudy by this afternoon.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet:
30-37 deg. F dropping into the mid 20's this afternoon
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest:
Southwest winds 50 to 60 mph gusting to 100 mph
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours:
2 inches
2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet
For today, clear this morning and becoming mostly cloudy and colder by this afternoon. Daytime highs 33-39 deg. F dropping into the mid 20's this afternoon. Southwest winds 25 to 40 mph gusting to 50 mph. Overnight, snow showers with 1-3" of accumulation. Lows 7 to 17 degrees F. Southwest winds at 25 to 35 mph, gusting to 45 mph. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Daytime highs 8 to 18 degrees F. West winds at 15 to 25 mph, shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.

Above 8000 Feet
For today, clear this morning and becoming mostly cloudy and colder by this afternoon. Daytime highs 30-37 deg. F dropping into the low 20's this afternoon. Southwest winds 50 to 60 mph gusting to 100 mph. Overnight, snow showers with 2-4" of accumulation. Lows 5 to 15 degrees F. Southwest winds at 35 to 50 mph, gusting to 75 mph. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Daytime highs 5 to 15 degrees F. West winds at 20 to 30 mph, shifting to the northeast in the afternoon.

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.