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.

Plenty of sunshine and a warming trend are expected for the next few days before a storm system impacts the forecast area early next week. Air temperatures are in the single digits and teens this morning at all elevations. Ridgetop winds are out of the northeast this morning and remain moderate in speed. Ridgetop wind gusts are expected to decrease as the day progresses.

Yesterday, observations made on Relay Peak (Mount Rose area) indicated up to 4 inches of new snow had accumulated on top of a well frozen snow surface. Northeast winds had scoured the upper portion of avalanche start zones on N-NE-E aspects and redistributed snow to lee areas, mainly just below ridge features on SE-S-SW aspects. Despite air temperatures in the 20s, solar radiation was noted to cause significant settlement within the new snow by 10 am. A small amount of free water formation occurred yesterday at the snow surface in most sun exposed areas. A thin sun crust is expected to have formed on top of the new snow in these areas overnight.

Two nights in a row with air temperatures well below freezing have allowed for strengthening of the melt-freeze portion of the snowpack directly below the recent new snow. This is expected to keep any deeper wet snow instability from forming today. It will take several melt-freeze cycles for the new snow to assimilate with the large grain melt-freeze snow crystals (corn snow) below it on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects.

Today, expect areas of shallow wet snow instability to form in sun exposed areas as daytime warming occurs. Any avalanche activity that occurs today is expected to involve only wet snow that sits on top of the uppermost crust in the snowpack. Small steep test slopes should give good information on how wet snow instability is forming today. Take the extra time to go slightly out of your way and investigate the snow on these small low consequence terrain features.

The bottom line:

This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Pockets of MODERATE danger will form at all elevations on E-SE-S-SW-W 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:	13 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	25 to 31 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	Northeast to north
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	30 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	56 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	0 to trace inches
Total snow depth:	139 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:	Sunny skies.	Clear skies.	Sunny skies.
Temperatures:	32 to 39 deg. F.	15 to 22 deg. F.	46 to 52 deg. F.
Wind direction:	E	SE	S
Wind speed:	Around 10 mph.	Up to 10 mph.	Up to 10 mph.
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:	Sunny skies.	Clear skies.	Sunny skies.
Temperatures:	31 to 39 deg. F.	17 to 24 deg. F.	40 to 46 deg. F.
Wind direction:	E	E shifting to S after midnight.	S
Wind speed:	10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the morning.	Up to 10 mph.	10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph in the afternoon.
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.