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 5, 2008 7:00 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.

After some overnight clearing more clouds should start to move into the forecast area today as another low pressure system to the north begins to influence the area. Clouds should start to build by midday and remain through the weekend. This system should bring cooler temperatures and continued southwest winds.
Yesterday most of the slopes above 7500' on all aspects remained frozen due to lower than forecasted high temperatures and some cloud cover. Below 7500' only the top few inches of surface snow softened on sun exposed aspects. These snow surfaces that softened yesterday should have undergone a solid refreeze last night due to radiational cooling and below freezing air temperatures. Observations from the Mount Rose area, the Dick's Peak area, and on Jake's Peak all showed showed a strong, well bonded snowpack capped by frozen melt/freeze snow on southerly aspects. On all other aspects a mix of frozen melt/freeze crusts, wind crusts, and wind scoured areas exists on the snow surface. Some isolated, small, shallow pockets of unconsolidated snow still exist on the most north facing slopes.

Today, increased afternoon cloud cover should shield the snowpack from the most intense sunshine. This decrease in exposure to solar radiation combined with cooler air temperatures should prevent most of the frozen snow surfaces from softening today. Some of the most sun exposed lower elevation SE-S aspects could see some melting of the refrozen surface snow this morning; however, this softening should be limited to the top 1 to 2 inches of surface snow. Avalanche activity will remain unlikely today.

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

Andy Anderson, 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: 33 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 40 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 90 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 76 inches
Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Partly cloudy and cooler with more clouds developing this afternoon.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 28 to 38 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: West at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches
2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:

Today, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 38 to 48 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with overnight lows 18 to 28 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

For Sunday, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 35 to 45 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Above 8000 Feet:

Today, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 28 to 38 deg. F. West winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with overnight lows 18 to 28 deg. F. West winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

For Sunday, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 25 to 35 deg. F. Southwest winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 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:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Saturday:	Saturday Night:	Sunday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.