THIS AVALANCHE FORECAST EXPIRED ON February 25, 2014 @ 7:00 am
Avalanche Forecast published on February 24, 2014 @ 7:00 am
Issued by Andy Anderson - Tahoe National Forest - Sierra Avalanche Center

The avalanche danger remains LOW at all elevations and on all aspects. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

1. Low

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Above Treeline
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

1. Low

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Near Treeline
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

1. Low

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Below Treeline
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
    Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Avalanche Problem 1: Normal Caution
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    Certain
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Even though human triggered avalanches are unlikely today, continue to exercise caution and use best-practice backcountry travel techniques including avoiding terrain traps that magnify the consequences of small avalanches and only putting one person on a slope at a time. Some small areas of unstable snow could still lurk on isolated terrain features during LOW danger days. Complex or extreme terrain like unsupported slopes above cliff bands, couliors, etc represent the places where these unlikely but not impossible areas unstable snow could linger. On sun-exposed slopes where the snow surface has no fully transitioned into melt-freeze snow a few isolated wet snow instabilities could also form today.

recent observations
Submit Observations

Yesterday on Powderhouse Peak and on Rose Knob Peak, 4-10 cm (2-4 in.) of softer snow remained above the most recent rain crust on the sheltered northerly aspects. On Powderhouse Peak this soft snow has become weak and sugary and represents layers of near surface and near crust facets. On Rose Knob Peak the upper layers of the snowpack had not facetted on the N-NE aspects. Below these surface layers the snowpack remains strong and well consolidated in areas where a deeper snowpack exists or in areas where snow cover did not exist prior to the storms that ended on Feb 10th. In areas that avalanched during that storm on Powderhouse the snowpack remains shallow and other facet layers remain buried in the snowpack.

On the SE-S-SW aspects of Rose Knob Peak, 2-10 cm (1-4 in.) of soft corn snow existed above supportable and still frozen melt-freeze snow up to 9650 ft. as of 2:30 pm. No signs of wet loose instabilities existed in this area even on the most sun-exposed and lower elevation slopes. A loose wet avalanche was reported to have occurred on a steep northerly facing slope south of Emigrant Peak near Carson Pass. The party noticed the debris around 11:30 yesterday but details about when the avalanche occurred and the precise aspect of the slope were unavailable.

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
weather summary

Warm, dry, and sunny weather will continue through tomorrow due to a high pressure ridge over the region. The forecast calls for daytime highs in the mid to upper 40's above 7000 ft. today and tomorrow. South to southwest winds should remain light as well. By tomorrow afternoon and evening the winds should begin to increase as a series of storms approaches the region. For more information on these storms check in with the Reno NWS.

CONDITIONS ALONG THE SIERRA CREST BETWEEN 8200 FT. AND 9200 FT. IN THE LAST 24 HOURS
Weather Station Map
Weather Station Table
6am temperature: 25 to 38 deg. F.
Max. temperature: 40 to 50 deg. F.
Average ridgetop wind direction: South
Average ridgetop wind speed: 5 to 15 mph
Maximum ridgetop wind gust: 24 mph
New snowfall: 0 inches
Total snow depth: 36 to 44 inches
Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS
For 7000 ft. to 8000 ft.
Monday Monday Night Tuesday
Weather: Sunny Clear Sunny
Temperatures: 43 to 50 deg. F. 27 to 33 deg. F. 44 to 51 deg. F.
Mid Slope Winds: Variable Southwest South
Wind Speed: Light 0 to 5 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight 5 to 10 mph in the morning increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon
Expected snowfall: 0 0 0
For 8000 ft. to 9000 ft.
Monday Monday Night Tuesday
Weather: Sunny Clear Sunny
Temperatures: 43 to 49 deg. F. 28 to 34 deg. F. 43 to 49 deg. F.
Ridge Top Winds: South Southwest South
Wind Speed: 10 to 15 mph in the morning decreasing in the afternoon 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph after midnight 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the afternoon
Expected snowfall: 0 0 0
Disclaimer

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.