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 Sunday, April 1st, 2007 at 6:41 am

The bottom line: This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger will form on sun exposed E-SE-S-SW aspects 35 degrees and steeper as daytime warming occurs.

A weak weather system will pass to the north of the forecast area today. This is expected to bring high level cloud cover to the area this morning with increasing mid level clouds over the area this afternoon. Forecasted maximum daytime air temperatures are a few degrees cooler for today than yesterday. Ridgetop winds remain westerly this morning and are expected to increase from light to moderate as the day progresses.

An air temperature inversion that occurred last night caused above freezing air temperatures in the 6,500' to 9,000' elevation range. Thin, high level cloud cover allowed for radiational cooling to refreeze the snow surface, but unfrozen wet snow will exist this morning in the upper snowpack beneath the surface crust. Warming and subsequent snow surface softening is expected to occur at a typical rate this morning. Afternoon cloud cover is expected to keep air temperatures a few degrees cooler than yesterday. This will help to limit areas of wet snow instability this afternoon, but human triggered avalanches will still become possible in isolated areas on steep, sun exposed aspects.

Yesterday, human triggered roller ball and pinwheel activity was observed above 8,000' on NW-N-NE aspects that are protected from east winds where heavy, but unconsolidated snow remains. Some minor surface instability will occur again today in these areas, but avalanche activity is not expected. Isolated human triggered avalanches are possible today in areas that receive greater amounts of solar radiation. Daytime warming will create isolated pockets of wet snow instability on E-SE-S-SW aspects 35 degrees and steeper at all elevations.

The bottom line: This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger will form on sun exposed E-SE-S-SW aspects 35 degrees and steeper as daytime warming occurs.

The Heavenly Ski Patrol has been generous enough to include the Sierra Avalanche Center as one of the benefactors of their annual fundraising party this year. The party is this Friday, April 6th at the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe from 7pm to midnight. Tickets are $10 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will go to the SAC operating budget for next season. For more information please click here. We will also raffle off a BCA backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe package on April 17th as a way to say thanks to everyone who has sent us a donation in the mail or via Pay Pal this season. All individuals who have donated $10 or more to SAC are automatically entered in this raffle. Thanks to all of our sponsors, the ski days, and everyone who has donated funding this winter, we have met our operating budget for this season and have a start on next year's funding. For more details about our financial situation please click here.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

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Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 33 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 46 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Westerly
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 27 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 50 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 64 inches

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Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Partly cloudy skies.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 39 to 49 degrees F.
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Westerly at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches

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2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:
7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 49 to 55 degrees F. West winds at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows around 28 degrees F. West winds at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph in the evening. Monday, sunny skies with daytime highs 47 to 53 degrees F. West winds at 10 to 20 mph are expected.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 39 to 49 degrees F. West winds at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows around 27 degrees F. Southwest winds at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Monday, sunny skies with daytime highs 40 to 48 degrees F. West winds at 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 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:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.