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.

This advisory was posted on April 8, 2008 6:50 AM

A map of the SAC forecast area is available on our home page.

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Today's Advisory:

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

A weak weather system is moving through the forecast area today. Cloudy skies, cooler air temperatures, and snow showers are expected. Southwest ridgetop winds have been light to moderate in speed for the past 24 hours. A slight increase in wind speed is forecast for today. This morning, remote sensors above 6,000' report air temperatures that are below freezing.

Despite cooler air temperatures over the past few days, the daily melt-freeze cycle has continued in sun exposed areas. Observations from across the forecast area continue to show a strong, well bonded snowpack below the surface layers at all elevations and on all aspects. On southerly aspects, the snowpack is well adjusted to the near daily melt-freeze conditions that have occurred over the past 6 weeks. On northerly aspects, snow surface conditions are a mix of frozen melt-freeze crust and wind scoured areas. Some small and isolated pockets of shallow unconsolidated snow linger on north aspects at the upper elevations. Areas of wet surface snow that formed yesterday have refrozen overnight.

Today, cloud cover and cooler air temperatures are expected to limit the amount of surface snow melting. Surface crusts are expected to remain frozen in most areas today. A small amount of surface snow melting my occur in low elevation areas. Forecast snowfall amounts for today are less than 1 inch. Areas new snow instability are not expected. Natural and human triggered avalanches remain unlikely at this time.

The bottom line: Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 20 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 38 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 24 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 53 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 to trace inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 74 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Cloudy skies with scattered snow showers.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 19 to 29 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Southwest at 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 to trace inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:

Today, cloudy skies with scattered snow showers. Daytime highs 29 to 39 deg. F. Southwest winds around 10 mph. Winds increasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the evening. Isolated snow showers after midnight. Overnight lows 15 to 25 deg. F. West winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the evening.

For Wednesday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 35 to 45 deg. F. Northwest winds up to 10 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:

Today, cloudy skies with scattered snow showers. Daytime highs 19 to 29 deg. F. Southwest winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the evening. Isolated snow showers after midnight. Overnight lows 15 to 25 deg. F. West winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph.

For Wednesday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 25 to 35 deg. F. Northwest winds at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

The bottom line:

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Tuesday:	Tuesday Night:	Wednesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Tuesday:	Tuesday Night:	Wednesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.