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 April 1, 2008 6:42 AM

A map of the SAC forecast area is available on our home page.

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Today's Advisory:

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

A weather system passing to the north of the forecast area will cause increasing cloud cover and a slight chance of snow showers over the forecast area, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. The northern half of the forecast area is expected to experience the greatest amount of cloud cover, with more sun breaks occurring at the southern end of the forecast area today. Remote sensors are reporting below freezing air temperatures at all locations this morning. Ridgetop winds have remained light for the past 24 hours. Light southwest winds are expected today.

Observations made over the past two days in the Mount Rose, Echo Summit, and West Shore Lake Tahoe areas indicate that snow surface conditions on all aspects consist of melt-freeze crusts. In some areas, 1 to 2 inches of recent new snow sits on top of this melt-freeze crust. A few shallow pockets of wind loaded snow exist below ridgelines and in gully features on northerly aspects. Recent new snow is well bonded to the crust below in all areas.

Today, mid level cloud cover will limit the amount of solar radiation, reducing the amount of surface snow melting that occurs. Surface snow below 8,000' on E-SE-S aspects will experience the greatest amount of melting. Natural and human triggered avalanches are unlikely today. Any areas of wet surface snow instability that form will be very small and are not expected to present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers.

The bottom line: Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 23 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 31 to 39 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: East shifting to southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 11 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 26 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 79 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers over the highest peaks.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 32 to 40 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Southwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 to trace inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 41 to 49 deg. F. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers after midnight. Overnight lows around 23 deg. F. West winds around 10 mph in the evening, becoming light.

For Wednesday, cloudy skies with isolated snow showers in the morning, then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Daytime highs 38 to 44 deg. F. Light winds becoming west around 10 mph in the afternoon.

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.