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 cold front that passed through the region yesterday left behind air temperatures in the single digits and teens across the forecast area this morning. Sunny skies and cooler air temperatures reaching into the 20s are expected today for areas above 7,000'. Ridgetop winds increased to moderate to strong in speed overnight and remain out of the east this morning. Continued east winds gradually becoming light in speed are expected over the next 24 hours. Light winds with air temperatures in the 30s are forecast for tomorrow.

Observations:

Observations made yesterday on Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) matched well with observations made around the rest of the forecast area over the past week (pit profile). The snowpack on NW-N-NE-E aspects is shallow, weak, and wind affected. Significant amounts of faceted snow exist in nearly all areas with varying degrees of overlying slab. In the vast majority of areas, the overlying slab is either too faceted and weak to propagate or it is sufficiently anchored. Recent east wind events have scoured significant amounts of snow from near and above treeline avalanche start zones. What was left behind is either bare ground or stable hard slabs. The SE-S-SW-W aspects are generally void of snow or hold just a few inches in shaded areas.

Avalanche Concerns: Persistent slabs

Despite widespread weak layers in the existing snowpack, the necessary ingredients for avalanche activity are hard to find all in the same place at once. Finding a faceted weak layer is easy, but finding a slab above it that is both unanchored and has the necessary characteristics to propagate is difficult. Steep northerly aspects with few visible anchors remain the suspect areas. Evaluating suspect areas on a slope by slope basis remains prudent at this time. Any evidence of instability should be weighted heavily in the decision make process. Given the current conditions, evidence of instability is unlikely to be seen outside of a snowpit or the aftermath of a human triggered avalanche. Exercise normal caution when traveling in the the backcountry as any human triggered avalanche activity at this time would occur within surrounding areas of stable snow.

The bottom line:

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

Brandon Schwartz - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	7 to 14 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	30 to 40 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	33 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	67 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	4 to 20 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny skies.	Clear skies.	Partly cloudy skies.
Temperatures:	23 to 30 deg. F.	4 to 11 deg. F.	31 to 38 deg. F.
Wind direction:	E	E	Variable
Wind speed:	15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Gusts decreasing to 35 mph in the afternoon.	10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the evening, becoming light.	Light winds
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny skies.	Clear skies.	Partly cloudy skies.
Temperatures:	24 to 30 deg. F.	6 to 13 deg. F.	31 to 37 deg. F.
Wind direction:	E	E	Variable
Wind speed:	20 to 35 mph with gusts to 65 mph. Gusts decreasing to 55 mph in the afternoon.	15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Winds decreasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph after midnight.	Light winds
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.