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 Avalanche Advisory was published on April 2, 2008:


April 2, 2008 at 0:00 am

Forecast Discussion:


This advisory was posted on April 2, 2008 6:40 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 is expected to pass to the south of the forecast area today. Cloud cover is expected to increase this morning with cloudy skies occurring by mid day. Light snow shower activity is possible in areas south of Lake Tahoe this morning. Most snow shower activity is not expected to begin until this afternoon. Scattered snow showers are forecast to spread north to I-80 as the day progresses with the greatest shower activity remaining south of Lake Tahoe. Ridgetop winds have remained light for the past 48 hours. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop winds are forecast for today.

Observations from around the forecast area 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. Recent snowpit data indicates that the deeper snowpack consists of high density layers that are well bonded to one another on all aspects and at all elevations. Clear skies overnight and below freezing air temperatures have allowed any wet surface snow that formed yesterday to refreeze at all elevations.

Today, increasing 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. In many areas, the snow surface will remain frozen today. Natural and human triggered avalanches remain unlikely at this time.

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): 22 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 29 to 35 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 15 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 43 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 to trace inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 79 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Increasing clouds with snow showers in the afternoon.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 30 to 36 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Southwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the morning.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 to 1 inches
2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, increasing clouds with isolated snow showers in the morning. Cloudy skies with scattered snow showers mainly south of Lake Tahoe in the afternoon. Daytime highs 34 to 44 deg. F. Variable winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the evening, mainly south of Lake Tahoe. Overnight lows 21 to 27 deg. F. Light winds becoming northeast around 10 mph after midnight.

For Thursday, sunny skies with daytime highs 40 to 48 deg. F. North winds up to 10 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:
Today, increasing clouds with isolated snow showers in the morning. Cloudy skies with scattered snow showers mainly south of Lake Tahoe in the afternoon. Daytime highs 30 to 36 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the morning.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with scattered snow showers in the evening. Overnight lows 20 to 26 deg. F. North winds at 10 to 15 mph.

For Thursday, sunny skies with daytime highs 36 to 42 deg. F. North winds at 10 to 20 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:

  Wednesday: Wednesday Night: Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures: deg. F. deg. F. deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall: O in. O in. O in.

For 8000-9000 ft:

  Wednesday: Wednesday Night: Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures: deg. F. deg. F. deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall: O in. O in. O in.