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 March 4, 2008 6:44 AM
Click here for a detailed map of the SAC forecast area

2_moderate.jpg
Today's Advisory:

This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Areas of MODERATE danger will develop on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, 37 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

Skies have cleared over the forecast area this morning. Air temperatures dropped below freezing overnight at all elevations. A few degrees of warming have been reported by remote sensors above 8,000' this morning, but temperatures remain at or below freezing. Ridgetop winds have been light to moderate from the west for the past 24 hours. Winds are forecast to shift to the northwest to north and remain light today. Today's maximum daytime air temperatures are expected to be a couple of degrees cooler than yesterday's highs.

Yesterday, warming air temperatures created areas of wet surface snow on southerly aspects at all elevations. Observations made on Rose Knob Peak (Mount Rose area) revealed surface snow melting on E-SE-S aspects up to 9,600' by 10 am. The top 4 inches of surface snow was wet on east aspects below 8,600' by 10:30 am. As the day progressed, areas with surface snow melting of several inches or more became increasingly widespread on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, especially below 8,500'. Snow surface conditions on northerly aspects consist mainly of wind affected or lightly crusted surface snow. Isolated pockets of unconsolidated surface snow linger in shaded and wind protected areas. Clear skies allowing radiational cooling and below freezing air temperatures overnight are expected to have caused refreeze of wet surface snow that formed yesterday.

Today, air temperatures are expected to rise above freezing at all elevations. Areas of wet snow instability are expected to form on steep sun exposed slopes, especially below 8,500'. Slightly cooler air temperatures today will slow the melting process to some degree, but areas of wet snow instability are still expected to form by mid day. Natural avalanche activity is unlikely at this time. Human triggered avalanches will become possible on steep sun exposed slopes as the day progresses.

The bottom line: This morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Areas of MODERATE danger will develop on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, 37 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

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): 30 to 32 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 42 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: 48 mph
New snow fall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 84 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Sunny and warm.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 34 to 40 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Northwest to north at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 38 to 45 deg. F. North winds around 10 mph.

Tonight, clear skies with overnight lows 14 to 24 deg. F. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

For Wednesday, sunny skies with daytime highs 34 to 40 deg. F. East winds around 10 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, sunny skies with daytime highs 34 to 40 deg. F. Northwest to north winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Tonight, clear skies with overnight lows 20 to 30 deg. F. North to northeast winds at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Winds increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph after midnight.

For Wednesday, sunny skies with daytime highs 28 to 38 deg. F. East winds at 10 to 15 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:
	Tuesday:	Tuesday Night:	Wednesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Tuesday:	Tuesday Night:	Wednesday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.