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 17, 2007 at 10:47 am.

Our current financial situation is still looking grim (for details click here). We still do not have enough money to finish out the season. We need your help to make our second fundraiser this Sunday at Kirkwood a success. By purchasing a $40 SAC ski day lift ticket online before Sunday at Snowbomb.com, you will get to ride the lifts at Kirkwood for 40% off of their normal rate on, and the entire purchase price of $40 goes directly to supporting 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 also be there trading stories and making turns together. On top of the fun, we will have some great raffle prizes to give away. 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 are starting to warm up during the day, and by Thursday afternoon we should see a dramatic warming trend at the upper elevations. Overnight northeast flow returned as a strong high pressure moved in. The winds will continue to gain strength for the next few days as this high pressures settles back over the area.

The winds continue to find their way into more protected terrain 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. The wind redistributes snow unevenly, and obstacles like stumps, rocks, and trees are beginning to reemerge. Move cautiously out there 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. Now would also be a great time to get out and practice your beacon skills at one of the beacon basins in the area.

Within the snowpack there is a mix of facets, degrading crusts, and some rounded grains that are starting to facet. Faceting will continue as the dominant process until warmer air temperatures have time to penetrate into the snowpack and start to help the grains round and sinter 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. To see some profiles from around the area with these faceted layers in them check out the snowpit section of our forum.

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):
8 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
32 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
Southeast yesterday and shifting to the east northeast last night and today
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
25-35 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours:
55 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours:
0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet:
38 inches
Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Sunny skies
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet:
18-24 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest:
easterly 20 - 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours:
0 inches
2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 23 to 28 degrees F. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Overnight, clear with lows 15 to 20 degrees F. Northeast winds at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny daytime highs 27 to 32 degrees F. Northeast winds at 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Above 8000 Feet
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 18 to 24 degrees F. East winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Overnight, clear with lows in the lower 20's. Northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny daytime highs in the mid 20's. Northeast winds at 25 to 35 mph decreasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Gusts to 50 mph.

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.