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.

This advisory was posted on January 10, 2008 6:50 AM
Click here for a detailed map of the SAC forecast area

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Today's Advisory:

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

A storm system that is moving into the Pacific Northwest is causing air temperatures to increase at all elevations this morning. Some light precipitation moved through the forecast area overnight and will continue today. Snow level is expected to rise to 6,500'. Ridgetop winds have been light to moderate, generally from the west during the past 24 hours. Winds are expected to remain moderate from the west today.

Yesterday, very little to no wind transport of snow was observed at ridetop level along the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and in the Desolation Wilderness. On Hidden Peak (West Shore Tahoe), stability tests indicate increasing layer bond strength in the upper snowpack at all elevations on N-NE-E aspects as compared to results from that area on Tuesday. Less than 1 inch of new snowfall is forecast to accumulate today. This is not expected to increase snowpack instability.

Natural and human triggered avalanches are unlikely today. Keep in mind that LOW avalanche danger does not mean NO avalanche danger. The avalanche process does not simply turn off. Very, isolated pockets of instability may exist on any LOW danger day.

The bottom line: Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.
Please send us your snow, weather, and avalanche observations by clicking the submit observations link on our contact page.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 25 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 25 deg. F
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: West
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 23 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 60 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 1 inch
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 65-75 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Mostly cloudy to cloudy skies with snow showers.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 29 to 32 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: West at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: trace to 1 inch

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the morning, then isolated snow showers in the afternoon. Snow level rising to 6,500'. Daytime highs 32 to 35 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. Overnight lows 21 to 24 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 20 mph.

For Friday, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 33 to 36 deg. F. West winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the morning, then isolated snow showers in the afternoon. Daytime highs 29 to 32 deg. F. West winds at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts to 60 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. Overnight lows around 25 deg. F. West winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

For Friday, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 30 to 34 deg. F. West winds at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

The bottom line:

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Thursday:	Thursday Night:	Friday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.