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.

The strong Northeast winds continued through the night averaging 50-55 mph over the Sierra Crest and 30-35 mph east of Lake Tahoe. These winds should start to decrease today as high pressure ridge starts to build over the forecast area. The forecast calls for this ridge to bring sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and light winds to the region for the early part of this week.

Observations from the Mt. Rose area and from Carson Pass yesterday indicated that the NE winds had scoured most of the exposed NW-N-NE-E aspects. In many places these winds exposed the Oct. ice layer. These winds transported new snow onto bare ground in most places. In both areas some isolated human-triggered cracking and collapsing did occur where small wind slabs had formed on NW aspects above 8700' due to cross loading. The slabs remained small and discontinuous. Observations showed that a mix of wind scoured ice, some discontinuous hard slabs, patches of unconsolidated new snow, and exposed rocks exist as the surface on most NW-N-NE-E aspects. The fragile combination of the Oct 19th facet layer on top of the early Oct. ice layer seems to be growing more isolated and disconnected. On other aspects thin, unconsolidated snow barely covers rocks, stumps, logs, dirt, and other toy-damaging, knee-breaking obstacles.

Today, the combination of the weak layer (the facets) and a slippery bed surface (the ice layer) will remain the primary avalanche concern. Even though the NE winds have caused this weak combination to become more isolated and disconnected, it still exists in some areas. On the few NW-N-NE slopes protected from the strong NE winds some human-triggerable avalanche activity may still remain possible. Cross-loaded NW aspects above 8700' that have this layer combination will be the most suspect slopes. Probing with a ski pole and quick hand pits can indicate if the facet/ice layer combination exists under the surface.

Use extra cation in the backcountry today.  A persistent weak layer with variable strength and distribution provides a complex avalanche hazard. Along with the avalanche hazard the early season snowpack just barely covers the myriad of rocks, dirt, stumps, shrubbery, and other season-ending obstacles.

The bottom line:

LOW avalanche danger exists across most of the forecast area. Some isolated pockets of MODERATE danger may still remain on NW-N-NE aspects steeper than 32 degrees above 8700'.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	22 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	25 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East Northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	55 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	107 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	0-1 inches
Total snow depth:	9-25 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	37-42 deg. F.	27-37 deg. F.	45-50 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	East	Southeast
Wind speed:	10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph	10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph	10 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	34-39 deg. F.	30-37 deg. F.	41-46 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	East	Southeast
Wind speed:	30-45 mph with gusts to 75 mph decreasing to 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph	10-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph	10-15 mph decreasing in the afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.