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 winds shifted to the southwest and increased last night ahead of a small low pressured system forecasted to reach the area during the next 24 hours. The southwest winds and cloud cover should continue to escalate today as this system arrives. By this afternoon the forecast calls for a chance of snow showers with snow becoming more widespread overnight. 2-4 inches of new snow could fall during the night above 7000 ft. The system should continue out of the region tomorrow, and winds and and snow showers should quickly diminish. This system will also keep temperatures much cooler during the next 2 days with daytime highs in the mid 30's today and low 30's tomorrow above 7000 ft.

Recent Observations:

Data collected on Incline Lake Peak (snowpit, more info) yesterday remained consistent with recent observations from around the forecast area. A mostly stable snowpack with a wide variety of surface textures exists across the region. On Incline Lake Peak, areas where several inches of soft snow remains existed on the sheltered below treeline N-NE aspects. Near and above treeline N-NE-E aspects held firm wind scoured and wind packed surfaces. On the more sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects 2-4 inches of soft corn snow formed by mid day and persisted into mid afternoon before it started to refreeze. Snowpit data, ski cuts on test slopes, hand pits, probing, and general observations did not reveal signs of instability in the snowpack.

Avalanche Problems:

Areas of instability have become increasingly isolated and smaller as the snowpack has continued to settle and consolidate over the last several days. Avalanche activity will remain unlikely today. Even though LOW avalanche danger persists across the region, pockets of unstable snow could still exist on isolated terrain features. Continue to evaluate the snowpack and slopes carefully before recreating on them. Use those observations and evaluations to help make travel decisions. Isolated hard slabs that would be very difficult to trigger may still exist in a few places in near and above treeline terrain. Cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover should keep the snow surface mostly frozen today.

The bottom line:

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Continue to use normal caution when travelling in the backcountry.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	32-37 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	44-50 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	Southwest
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	30 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	61 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	56-83 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:	Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the afternoon	Cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening. Snow becoming likely after midnight.	Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the morning.
Temperatures:	36-43 deg. F.	24-31 deg. F.	31-38 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	Southwest	South
Wind speed:	15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph increasing to 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph in the afternoon	20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph decreasing to 10-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph after midnight	10-15 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	2-4 in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:	Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the afternoon	Cloudy with a chance of snow in the evening. Snow becoming likely after midnight.	Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow in the morning.
Temperatures:	30-36 deg. F.	22-29 deg. F.	28-34 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	Southwest	West
Wind speed:	35-45 mph with gusts to 65 mph increasing to 55-60 mph with gusts to 80 mph in the afternoon	50-60 mph with gusts to 80 mph decreasing to 35-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph after midnight	10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	2-4 in.	O in.