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 north and east winds decreased yesterday averaging between 20 and 30 mph for most of the day. The high pressure ridge over the forecast area should allow these moderate north and east winds to continue through tomorrow. This high pressure will also keep skies sunny and clear through Friday. Temperatures should start to warm up  and should return into the mid 30's and low 40's above 7000 ft today. Remote sensors across the forecast area already show much warmer temperatures this morning than yesterday morning.

Observations:

In some areas near exposed ridges above treeline yesterday, the north and east winds did remain strong enough enough to transport snow; however, due to the previous wind scouring, very little snow remained available to work with. Near and above treeline on Ralston Peak, the W-SW aspects held a variable, thin, and breakable wind slab / wind crust that was not large enough to pose much of a threat to backcountry travelers (photos). Farther north on Maggie's Peak, ski cuts released some small wind slabs on steep, cross-loaded NW-N-NE aspects near and above treeline (more info). On Silver Peak the winds had scoured the exposed N-NE-E aspects near and above treeline. In areas protected from the easterly winds and even in open areas below treeline, several inches of cold, soft snow resting on a firm crust remained in the Silver Peak area and in the Deep Creek drainage. Stability tests and ski cuts in these less wind affected areas show no signs of instability other than small surface sluffs (pit profile).

Primary Avalanche Concern: Wind Slabs

The strong east/northeast winds that occurred Tuesday night stripped most of the snow out of the exposed N-NE-E facing starting zones near and above treeline. Even though these winds have decreased, they did still manage to move a small amount of snow yesterday. They deposited some of this snow onto the NW-W-SW-S-SE aspects; however, in most areas the resulting wind slabs have remained small, shallow, and inconsequential. In very isolated areas, larger wind slabs may have formed that could remain sensitive to human-triggering. The cross-loaded NW and SE and wind-loaded W-SW-S aspects near and above treeline hold the best potential for these larger wind slabs. Use clues like cornices, drifts, and other wind created textures to determine where these larger slabs exist. As the tempertures warm and the winds continue to decrease, these slabs should become more difficult to trigger.

The bottom line:

LOW avalanche danger exists on most aspects and elevations. Some very isolated pockets of MODERATE danger may remain on SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects, 37 degrees and steeper near and above treeline.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	19-21 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	24-31 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East and Northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	25-35 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	60 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	61-90 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny	Partly cloudy becoming clear overnight	Sunny
Temperatures:	33-40 deg. F.	21-29 deg. F.	37-44 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	East	East
Wind speed:	10 mph with gusts to 20 mph	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny	Partly cloudy becoming clear overnight	Sunny
Temperatures:	29-36 deg. F.	24-30 deg. F.	32-39 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	Northeast	Northeast
Wind speed:	20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph	20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph	20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.