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 will allow temperatures to continue to climb over the next few days. Daytime highs could reach into the upper 40's above 7000 ft today. This ridge will also keep the weather dry until it departs. The dry air and clear night skies should allow temperatures to continue falling below freezing at night as they have the last few nights. Light east winds should prevail today; however, they should start to shift towards the southwest and increase over the next 24 hours due to a large low pressure system approaching the region.

Observations:

Yesterday, observations on Rose Knob Peak (photos) and on Silver Peak showed a mostly stable snowpack with a mix of melt-freeze conditions, wind scoured surfaces, breakable crusts, and some patches of softer snow. In both of these areas, only the most sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects warmed up enough for the melt-freeze crust to soften. What softening did occur in these areas was shallow and short-lived. Most slopes remained frozen all day. The exposed N-NE-E aspects near and above treeline held firm, uneven, wind-scoured surfaces in both areas. The patches of softer snow only remained on the more sheltered N aspects below treeline. As in other areas this week, stability tests and hand pits continued to show a strengthening trend in the snowpack. These tests and observations also showed that the weak sugary snow (facets) below the old crust has started to round and gain strength.

Avalanche Concerns:

Cold temperatures and a clear night sky should have allowed another very strong refreeze to occur last night. This refreeze combined with light east winds, weak February sunshine, and gradual warming this week should offset the fact that daytime highs could climb 5-10 degrees today and keep most wet snow instabilities at bay. Any wet snow instabilities that do form today should remain limited to roller balls and wet loose sluffs on the most sun-exposed SE-S-SW aspects. If temperatures climb higher than forecasted, these instabilities could become larger and more widespread. Even though dangerous avalanche activity remains unlikely, it is not impossible. Continue to evaluate slopes carefully before committing to them and travel with caution in the backcountry.

The bottom line:

The avalanche danger should remain LOW on all elevations and aspects today. Please use normal caution while 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:	22-25 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	32-40 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East and Northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	20-30 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	44 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	58-85 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny	Partly cloudy	Sunny
Temperatures:	44-50 deg. F.	20-35 deg. F.	42-50 deg. F.
Wind direction:	East	South	Southwest
Wind speed:	around 10 mph	10-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph increasing to 35 mph after midnight	20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny	Partly cloudy	Sunny
Temperatures:	35-42 deg. F.	28-40 deg. F.	38-45 deg. F.
Wind direction:	East	Southeast shifting to the south after midnight	Southwest
Wind speed:	10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph	15-20 mph increasing to 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph after midnight	15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph increasing to 30-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph in the afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.