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 forecast calls for sunny skies, decreasing wind, and warmer temperatures over the next few days. Today's highs should climb into the upper 30's and low 40's above 7000 ft. Temperatures should get even warmer tomorrow. The ENE winds should begin to decrease today and continue decreasing through tomorrow. The high pressure ridge should remain in place over the west coast through the weekend. 

Recent Observations:

On Red Lake Peak yesterday, consistent ENE winds and temperatures near freezing kept  the snow surface firm and mostly frozen in the majority of areas. The plentiful sunshine did provide enough warmth for 2-3 inches of soft corn snow to form on some of the S-SE aspects in areas sheltered from the ENE winds (photos, more info). On all of the southerly aspects a thick layer of firm melt freeze snow exists below the surface. On the open and exposed N-NE-E aspects in this area, the recent winds have exposed old crusts and created firm wind packed surfaces (photos, more info). Below these firm surfaces a layer of facets does exist. Observations yesterday did not reveal areas where slab layers exist above this weak layer. On some of the NW-W aspects, the strong ENE winds have formed some small wind slabs. Numerous tests on these small slabs indicated that they have bonded well to the snowpack below them (photos, more info). 

Avalanche Concerns:

Avalanche activity will remain unlikely. Warmer temperatures, plentiful sunshine, and a decrease in the cold ENE wind should allow more soft wet corn snow to form on the sun exposed aspects that face the southern half of the compass today. Since very little recent storm snow remains on the majority of these E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, wet snow instabilities should remain limited to small roller balls and small isolated point releases. The winds slabs formed over the last several days by the ENE winds seem to have bonded well to the snow below them. Human triggering of shallow wind slabs that exist in near and above treeline terrain on SE-S-SW-W-NW aspects will also remain unlikely today.

The bottom line:

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Continue to use normal caution when traveling 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:	23-28 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	32-40 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	20-35 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	56 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	56-79 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	38-45 deg. F.	20-28 deg. F.	42-49 deg. F.
Wind direction:	East	East	Variable
Wind speed:	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph	Light
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	33-40 deg. F.	20-27 deg. F.	39-46 deg. F.
Wind direction:	East	East	East
Wind speed:	15-20 mph with gusts to 30 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.