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 January 14, 2008 6:43 AM
Click here for a detailed map of the SAC forecast area

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Today's Advisory:

Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist at all elevations north of Hwy 50 on recently wind loaded SE-S-SW aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Avalanche danger is LOW for all other areas.

A weather system will pass to the north of the forecast area today. This has caused ridgetop winds to shift from east to southwest during the overnight hours. A slight increase in cloud cover is expected for this afternoon. An air temperature inversion is in place over the forecast area this morning, causing above freezing air temperatures at the upper elevations. Prior to sunrise this morning, air temperatures at many remote sensors above 8,000' were already near or above yesterday's high temperature readings.

Yesterday, light to moderate east winds scoured snow from recently wind loaded areas near and above treeline on east aspects where some very small and isolated pockets of instability were observed north of Hwy 50 on Saturday. Avalanche concerns for today center on warming of lingering pockets of wind loaded snow, mainly on cross loaded SE-S-SW aspects. These pockets exist mainly in steep open areas at all elevations north of Hwy 50 where a few inches of new snow fell on Saturday. On NW-N-NE aspects, snow surface temperatures are not expected to reach the freezing mark due to low sun angles and the decreased amount of solar radiation that occurs this time of year. South of Hwy 50, very little concern exists for the possibility of warming instability today due to the absence on new snowfall from Saturday.

Pockets of naturally occurring roller balls and pinwheels are possible today on steep and recently wind loaded SE-S-SW aspects. Pockets of human triggered avalanche activity are possible in these areas at all elevations. Natural avalanche activity is unlikely today.

The bottom line: Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist at all elevations north of Hwy 50 on recently wind loaded SE-S-SW aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Avalanche danger is LOW for all other areas.
Please send us your snow, weather, and avalanche observations by clicking the submit observations link on our contact page.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 39 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 39 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: East shifting to southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 25 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 48 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 57 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Sunny and warm.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 41 to 47 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Southwest at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph possible in the afternoon.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, sunny in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Daytime highs around 45 deg. F. Light winds becoming southwest at 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows 22 to 28 deg. F. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

For Tuesday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs around 42 deg. F. West winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, sunny in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Daytime highs 41 to 47 deg. F. Southwest winds at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph possible in the afternoon.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows 24 to 32 deg. F. West winds at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

For Tuesday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs around 40 deg. F. West winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Winds shifting to northwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph 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:
	Monday:	Monday Night:	Tuesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Monday:	Monday Night:	Tuesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.