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 decreased and shifted to the southwest yesterday as the high pressure ridge moved father inland. These lighter southwest winds should continue through tomorrow. The skies should remain clear and temperatures should stay above normal with daytime highs in the upper 30's to upper 40's in the mountains above 7000 ft. The forecast calls for the sunny warm weather to continue through the weekend.

Recent Observations:

Yesterday observations form the Second and Third Creek drainages (photos, snowpit, more info) in the Mt. Rose area and the Underwood Bowl area (photos, snowpit, more info) near Bear Valley revealed 2-4 inches of wet corn snow had formed on the sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects by midday. This soft wet snow resided on top of a strong layer of still frozen melt-freeze snow. On the near and above treeline NW-N-NE aspects, recent winds have exposed firm frozen rain crusts on the surface. In areas sheltered from the recent E and NE winds, some soft snow still exists above a rain crust on these aspects. Below the rain crust on the northerly aspects, a layer of weak sugary snow exists in both areas. Tests on this weak layer from both locations indicated that even if it does break, the resulting fracture would not travel very far. On mid elevation NW-N facing slopes in the Second Creek drainage, a shallower snowpack composed mostly of alternating crust and facet layers similar to the snowpack stratigraphy noted on Porcupine Ridge exists (snowpit, more info).

Avalanche Concerns:

Avalanche activity will remain unlikely today. More warming should occur today due to plentiful sunshine, warm air temperatures, and less wind. This warming should should allow soft wet corn snow to form on most of the sun exposed SE-S-SW aspects today. Due to the prolonged melt-freeze cycle, the weakness of the Feb. sunshine, and the continued light winds, the melting that occurs today should not create substantial wet snow instabilities. Any wet snow instabilities that do form today, should remain limited to small roller balls and small isolated point releases.

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:	26-36 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	45-49 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East shifting to the southwest yesterday afternoon
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	East: 15-25 mph | Southwest: 5-15 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	45 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	53-80 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	42-48 deg. F.	25-31 deg. F.	36-42 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	Southwest	Southwest
Wind speed:	Light in the morning increasing to 10-15 mph in the afternoon	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the morning
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	36-42 deg. F.	21-29 deg. F.	34-39 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southwest	Southwest	West
Wind speed:	15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph	25-35 mph with gusts to 55 mph	25-35 mph with gusts to 50 mph decreasing to 40 mph in the afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.