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 March 8, 2008 6:41 AM

A map of the SAC forecast area is available on our home page.

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Today's Advisory:

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

A weak weather system passed to the north of the forecast area overnight. Some lingering cloud cover this morning and lower maximum daytime air temperatures are forecast for today. Remote sensors are reporting air temperatures near and above freezing below 8,000'. Sensors above 8,000' are reporting air temperatures near and below freezing this morning. Southwest ridetop winds became moderate in speed yesterday afternoon and have increased to strong during the early morning hours. Winds are expected to shift to the north and decrease to moderate speed this afternoon.

Yesterday, maximum daytime air temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees below forecast expectations. On Mt. Judah and Mt. Lincoln (Donner Summit area), significant melting of surface snow was observed on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects below 8,000. Above 8,000', significant melting of surface snow was limited to SE-S-SW aspects. Northerly aspects continue to hold a mix of wind affected and lightly crusted snow surfaces. Overall good layer bonding has been observed within the deeper snowpack over the past 1.5 weeks on all aspects at all elevations. A strong refreeze of surface snow that melted yesterday is expected to have occurred overnight.

Today, colder air temperatures and moderate ridgetop winds are expected to keep any significant melting of surface snow confined to E-SE-S-SW aspects below 7,500'. Minimal to no melting of surface snow is expected today on southerly aspects above 8,000'. Any isolated pockets of wet snow instability that form today will be small and limited to areas below 7,000'. Natural and human triggered avalanches are unlikely today.

The bottom line: Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised

Public donations to the avalanche center this season are below our fundraising goal. We are going to raffle a beacon, shovel, probe, and backpack package as a way give back to those who donate $100 or more before March 30th. For more information on the raffle and amount of donations received click here.

Brandon Schwartz, 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: 39 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 28 mph.
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 69 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 82 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Partly cloudy to sunny skies and colder.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 29 to 34 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: West at 50 to 60 mph with gusts to 70 mph. Winds shifting to north and decreasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph in the afternoon.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, partly cloudy skies in the morning becoming sunny in the afternoon. Daytime highs 32 to 39 deg. F. West winds at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Winds shifting to the north.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows 22 to 27 deg. F. Northeast winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph after midnight.

For Sunday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 43 to 49 deg. F. East winds around 10 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, partly cloudy skies in the morning becoming sunny in the afternoon. Daytime highs 29 to 34 deg. F. West winds at 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Winds shifting to north at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows 22 to 27 deg. F. Northeast winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

For Sunday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 40 to 46 deg. F. East winds at 10 to 15 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:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.