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.

A strong high-pressure ridge should bring spring-like weather back to the forecast area through the weekend. The forecast calls for sunny skies, light north and east winds, and daytime highs in the 50's for all elevations above 7000' through Sunday.

Yesterday, strong, cold north and east winds and relatively cooler daytime temperatures kept most of the warming instabilities at bay. Near and above treeline, these winds moved snow from the windward N-NE-E aspects to the leeward SE-S-SW-W aspects. Observations near Red lake Peak on Carson Pass showed some small, skier-triggered cracks in some of the newly formed pockets of wind-loaded snow on the SW-W aspects. However, the wind-loaded pockets that did form in this area yesterday remained very small and isolated due to the overall lack of recent snow available for wind transport. Soft, cold snow mixed with wind-scoured crusts and small, stiff wind slabs existed on the surface on most aspects near and above treeline in the Carson Pass area yesterday. 3-5 inches of "dust on crust" existed in areas protected from the wind. No avalanche activity was reported yesterday.

Today, wet-snow instabilities will be the main avalanche concern. Intense spring sunshine and daytime highs in the mid 40's to low 50' above 7000' will work together to melt snow destroying some of the bonds that hold the snowpack together and introducing free water into the snowpack. This combination of free water and less bonding will weaken the snowpack. This weakening will have the greatest effect on the April 14th-15th snow that has not undergone any melt-freeze cycles yet. However, enough warming could occur today to melt and weaken some of the older melt-freeze snow as well. Human-triggered roller balls, pinwheels, and small point-release avalanches will be possible today. Some of this activity may occur naturally on steep, sun-exposed, SE-S-SW aspects near rock outcrops and and trees. Some very small, isolated, human-triggered wet slab activity involving the most recent snow may be possible today. The well established drainage channels and very solid refreeze that has lasted since Tuesday in the snowpack below the recent snow should prevent large, deep, wet slabs from forming today.

The bottom line:

This morning the avalanche danger is LOW. Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger should quickly develop due to daytime warming on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects 37 degrees and steeper at all elevations today.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	31 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	45 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East - northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	25 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	49 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	135 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	45-52 deg. F.	28-34 deg. F.	50-57 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	Northeast shifting to the southeast	East
Wind speed:	10 mph	10 mph	10 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	44-50 deg. F.	23-30 deg. F.	47-53 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	North shifting to the east	East
Wind speed:	10 mph with gusts to 30 mph	10 mph	10 mph with gusts to 25 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.