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 Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 6:59 am

Our second big fundraiser for the year is coming up this Sunday at Kirkwood. We still do not have enough money to finish out the season, so we need this fundraiser to go well. The full purchase price of your $40 SAC Ski day lift ticket at Kirkwood for Sunday will go towards funding the avalanche center. This event is much more than just a day of cheap resort skiing. We will be there all day to meet all of you and answer your questions. Lots of other folks who are traditionally in the backcountry will be there. We can all trade stories, meet some new partners, have a great day hanging out together in the sun, and make some turns together. We also have some great raffle prizes to give away. So, come on out and let's make this a huge success! Remember that you have to buy your tickets online before Sunday at Snowbomb.com. If you can't make it but would still like to help out please make a donation directly to us via Paypal or by sending us a check. Thanks for your support.

Temperatures in the mountains started to return to near normal yesterday afternoon and are expected to remain there through the rest of the week. There is a minor disturbance passing to the north of us tonight. As it moves through the winds will shift to the southeast today and into the evening. There is a slight chance for some small snow showers associated with this disturbance. These showers will have minimal accumulation. Overnight northeast flow will return as the strong high pressure over us pushes this weak disturbance out.

Right now the snowpack is a mix of facets, degrading crusts, and some rounded grains that are starting to facet. Within the snowpack faceting will continue as the dominant process until warmer air temperatures have time to penetrate into the snowpack and start to help the crystals heal themselves. This is a slow process and could take several days to start working in the snowpack. These layers of facets have very little cohesion and form persistent weak layers in the snowpack. If we get much new snow before temperatures in the snowpack start to equilibrate and the facets start to reverse, we could see lots of failures occurring on these layers.

The consistent, unrelenting east winds at all elevations have managed to affect snow in the more commonly protected areas. At all elevations the surface snow conditions vary from breakable crust to glazed wind scoured crusts to hard slab to pockets of powder. As the winds continue to blow these variable conditions will become more widespread and any sort of consistent surface conditions will become harder to find. As the wind redistributes snow unevenly, obstacles like stumps and rocks are beginning to reemerge so move cautiously and be ready to take evasive maneuvers at any time. North facing, mid elevation, tree covered slopes still hold the best snow in the backcountry. There are still pockets on these slopes where you can make 5-10 turns in great snow before hitting a wind affected area; however, the most consistent skiing and riding right now is probably at the resorts.

Avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. This advisory will be updated tomorrow afternoon.

Andy Anderson , Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet):
24 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
24 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
East northeast shifting to the southeast
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
25-35 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
71 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours:
0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet:
39 inches
Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Sunny skies
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet:
24-29 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest:
easterly 15 - 25 mph with gusts of 35-45 mph shifting to the south at 10-20 mph this afternoon.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours:
0-2 inches
2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 32 to 36 degrees F. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Overnight, partly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow with accumulation of up to 1 inch. Lows 14 to 18 degrees F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph shifting to the northeast at 10mph after midnight. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow with accumulation of up to 1 inch. Daytime highs 24 to 28 degrees F. Northeast winds at 10 to 20 mph are expected.

Above 8000 Feet
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 24 to 29 degrees F. East winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 35-45 mph shifting to the south at 10-20 mph this afternoon. Overnight, partly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow with accumulation of up to 1 inch. Lows 10 to 15 degrees F. Southwest winds at 10 to 20 mph shifting to the northeast at 15 to 25mph after midnight with gusts to 40 mph. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of snow with accumulation of up to 1 inch. Daytime highs 18 to 24 degrees F. East winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph are expected.

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