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.

Sunny skies are expected this morning before increasing clouds and a change in the weather occurs this afternoon and overnight. Freezing level this morning is right around 8,000'. Air temperatures are in the high 30s on the valley floors and high 20s to low 30s at the upper elevations. Ridgetop winds have shifted from east to southwest overnight, ahead of the approaching weather system. Winds are moderate in speed this morning and are expected to become strong as the day progresses. Snow showers will become possible this afternoon and overnight.

Yesterday, observations made on Mt. Houghton (Mount Rose area) and on Signal Peak (Donner Summit area) both revealed melting snow surface conditions. Melting was limited to the top few inches of the snowpack until the early to mid afternoon hours when skier triggered roller balls were noted on steep southerly aspects below 8,000' on Signal Peak and below 10,000' on Mt. Houghton. One very small  (6' by 10') skier triggered wet loose snow avalanche occurred on Mt. Houghton at 9,800' on a 38 degree SE aspect at around 1 pm. Overnight, a strong refreeze of wet surface snow is expected to have occurred above 8,000'. A fair refreeze is expected to have occurred below 8,000' due to radiational cooling under clear skies.

Today, snow surfaces will again melt this morning under sunny skies and the higher intensity April sun. Pockets of surface wet snow instability are expected to form on steep southerly aspects around mid day. The greatest instability is expected in areas where accelerated snow melt is occurring around features such as exposed rocks and cliffs. Increasing cloud cover is expected to slow melting and subsequent free water production this afternoon. If snow showers occur this afternoon, wet snow instability will be more limited. If cloud cover does not appear as forecast, more widespread wet snow instability is possible. If you find yourself triggering roller balls larger than 1 foot in diameter or sinking into wet snow up to the tops of your boots, move to a safer location on either a more westerly aspect, more northerly aspect, or low angle terrain.

The bottom line:

This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Pockets of MODERATE danger will form at all elevations on SE-S-SW aspects, 37 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

Brandon Schwartz - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

Weather Observations from along the Sierra Crest between 8200 ft and 8800 ft:

0600 temperature:	30 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	39 to 41 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East shifting to southwest.
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	25 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	46 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	139 inches

Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast - Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny to partly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers in the afternoon.	Partly to mostly cloudy skies. Isolated snow showers in the evening increasing to scattered snow showers.	Mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers in the morning. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Temperatures:	37 to 45 deg. F.	15 to 22 deg. F.	24 to 31 deg. F.
Wind direction:	SW	W	N
Wind speed:	15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 55 mph in the afternoon.	15 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph.	10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon.
Expected snowfall:	0 to trace in.	Trace to 2 in.	Trace to 1 in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny to partly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers in the afternoon.	Partly to mostly cloudy skies. Isolated snow showers in the evening increasing to scattered snow showers.	Mostly cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers in the morning. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Temperatures:	30 to 37 deg. F.	11 to 18 deg. F.	21 to 29 deg. F.
Wind direction:	SW	SW	NW
Wind speed:	25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Ridge gusts to 75 mph.	30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph. Ridge gusts to 90 mph decreasing to 70 mph after midnight.	15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
Expected snowfall:	0 to trace in.	Trace to 2 in.	Trace to 1 in.