THIS AVALANCHE FORECAST EXPIRED ON April 6, 2014 @ 7:00 am
Avalanche Forecast published on April 5, 2014 @ 7:00 am
Issued by Andy Anderson - Tahoe National Forest - Sierra Avalanche Center

On slopes steeper than 35 degrees pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form on the sun exposed E-SE-S-SW-W aspects due to daytime warming. Loose wet snow avalanches will be possible today. While larger slab avalanches remain unlikely, isolated slab avalanches triggered by the today's warming will not be impossible.

2. Moderate

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Above Treeline
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

2. Moderate

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Near Treeline
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

2. Moderate

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Below Treeline
Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
    Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
Avalanche Problem 1: Loose Wet
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Strong April sunshine and temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above freezing will allow wet unconsolidated snow to form on the sun exposed aspects. Northerly winds and some cloud cover will work to limit the snowpack warming that occurs today, but some loose wet snow instabilities like roller balls, pinwheels, and loose wet snow sluffs should still occur. While most of these loose wet avalanches should remain too small to bury a person, they could still push a person into an area with other consequences or could become more serious in areas where terrain traps exist. Larger slab avalanches remain unlikely today; however, they are not impossible especially on previously wind loaded SE facing aspects that receive large amounts of sunshine today.

If the forecasted cloud cover does not materialize and/or temperatures climb higher than forecast wet snow instabilities (including both loose wet snow and the previously mentioned slabs) will become larger and more widespread.

recent observations
Submit Observations

Yesterday observations near Round Top and Grouse Rocks both indicated that the snowpack continues to settle and consolidate. Data did not reveal any signs of instability associated with the recent storm snow or wind slabs. Snowpit data in both places also indicated that the near crust facets (weak snow under an old crust) continue to gain strength.

Snow squalls and wind in both places did cause some new wind loading and formed small new wind slabs up to 3 inches thick by the afternoon. These very small wind slabs did not grow large enough to cause problems for backcountry travelers in either location yesterday.

Weather and CURRENT CONDITIONS
weather summary

Yesterday's snow squalls produced up to 2 inches of new snow in some areas while no snow accumulated in other areas. Skies started to clear last night and the winds shifted towards the north as the low pressure that brought these covective snow showers to the area moved eastward. For today the forecast calls for mostly sunny skies this morning with some clouds developing over the region this afternoon. Temperatures shoud begin climbing today with daytime highs in the low to mid 40's in the mountains. By tomorrow a strong high pressure ridge will establish itself over the forecast area bringing sunny skies and daytime highs in the mid 40's to low 50's above 7000 ft. The northerly winds should continue today and should begin to decrease tomorrow.

CONDITIONS ALONG THE SIERRA CREST BETWEEN 8200 FT. AND 9200 FT. IN THE LAST 24 HOURS
Weather Station Map
Weather Station Table
6am temperature: 17 to 24 deg. F.
Max. temperature: 29 to 38 deg. F.
Average ridgetop wind direction: Southwest to shifting to northeast after midnight
Average ridgetop wind speed: Before midnight: 20 mph | After midnight: 5 to 10 mph
Maximum ridgetop wind gust: 35 mph
New snowfall: 0 to 2 inches
Total snow depth: 44 to 73 inches
Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS
For 7000 ft. to 8000 ft.
Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
Weather: Mostly sunny this morning becoming partly cloudy this afternoon Clear Sunny
Temperatures: 37 to 44 deg. F. 23 to 30 deg. F. 46 to 53 deg. F.
Mid Slope Winds: North North Northeast
Wind Speed: 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph
Expected snowfall: 0 0 0
For 8000 ft. to 9000 ft.
Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
Weather: Mostly sunny this morning becoming partly cloudy this afternoon Clear Sunny
Temperatures: 36 to 42 deg. F. 23 to 30 deg. F. 44 to 50 deg. F.
Ridge Top Winds: Northwest shifting to the north in the afternoon North Northeast
Wind Speed: 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph in the afternoon 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph
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.