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 high-pressure ridge should keep mostly dry weather over the forecast area through Saturday. Daytime highs above 7000' should reach into the mid 40's today. By tomorrow the first in a series of low-pressure systems should move into the forecast area. The wind has already shifted back to the southwest, and some high clouds have moved into the area ahead of this storm. The forecast calls for this first system to weaken and split as it moves into the Central Sierra. Even though it should not produce much (if any) snow accumulation, it should push the high-pressure ridge out of the area and open the door for a series of stronger, wetter storms next week (video from the Reno NWS).

Observations:

We received two more reports of avalanches that most likely occurred on Wed. The first occurred on a NE-facing, 35 degree slope in the Lost Lake area (near Blue Lakes out of Hope Valley) and may have been human-triggered (photos). The second one occurred on an E-facing, 40 degree slope near Stevens Peak (near Carson Pass) and looked to have been triggered by a natural cornice collapse (photos). Both slides occurred in near or above treeline terrain. We did not receive any reports of avalanche activity that occurred yesterday. Layer bonding tests on Mt. Tallac, Silver Peak, and Castle Peak all showed good bonding between the new snow layers and the old snow surfaces (photos, videos, and pit profiles). Observations in these areas did not reveal any other signs of instability and showed little to no east wind transport. A few skier-triggered sluffs did occur in all three of these areas on north-facing test slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Large, feathery surface hoar existed up to 8000' in these areas. Several inches of soft and unconsolidated snow remained on N-NE aspects in all three of these areas. Below 7500' where less snow fell during the storm "dust on crust" surface conditions existed. Overall observations point to mostly stable snowpack.

Avalanche concerns:

Settlement and stronger bonding in the new snow layers and along the old/new snow interface have decreased the risk of avalanche activity. With mild temperatures, light winds, and little to no new snow forecasted for the next 36 hours, the snowpack should continue to gain strength. Remember LOW danger does not mean no danger. Even though avalanche activity will be unlikely today, avalanches are not impossible. Continue to use safe travel techniques and caution when traveling in the backcountry.

The bottom line:

LOW avalanche danger exists on all elevations and aspects today. Avalanche activity will be unlikely but not impossible. Continue to use safe travel techniques and caution when traveling in the backcountry.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	31-39 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	31-41 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East until midnight then shifting to the southwest
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	East: 25-30 mph | Southwest: 15 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	East: 48 mph | Southwest: 27 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	47-70 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Mostly cloudy	Mostly cloudy	Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers in the afternoon.
Temperatures:	37-44 deg. F.	18-25 deg. F.	32-42 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	South	South
Wind speed:	10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph	10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph increasing to 40 mph after midnight	15-25 mph with gusts to 45 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	trace in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Mostly cloudy	Mostly cloudy	Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers in the afternoon.
Temperatures:	39-45 deg. F.	21-28 deg. F.	32-38 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	Southwest	South
Wind speed:	10-15 mph with gusts to 35 mph increasing to 15-25 mph with gusts to 50 mph this afternoon	20-30 mph with gusts to 60 mph	20-30 mph with gusts to 55 mph decreasing to 45 mph this afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	trace in.