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.

Overnight the winds started to decrease and shift to the southeast. These southeast winds should continue through tomorrow before shifting more to the south as the high pressure creeps slowly to the east. By mid week this high pressure should have moved on. Until then the weather should remain sunny and warm over the forecast area. Today's highs should reach into the low to mid 40's at all elevations again.

This extended high pressure system has allowed the snowpack to consolidate and gain strength in most areas. Near surface facets have formed both on the surface and just below the surface crusts on northerly aspects. Keep an eye on where these weak, sugary snow grains exist because they could become a failure layer during the next storm cycle. Breakable crusts, supportable crusts, and wind affected snow exist on the the surface in most areas. Melt-freeze conditions, a shallow snowpack, and areas of exposed ground exist on southerly aspects. Yesterday on these southerly aspects, 1 to 3 inches of surface snow softened for a few hours around midday. These areas quickly refroze as soon as they lost direct sun. Overnight the snowpack continued to refreeze due to radiational cooling and below freezing air temperatures.

The weak January sun, cool easterly winds, and a strong overnight refreeze will keep wet snow instabilities from forming again today. The softening and melting that occurs today should be limited to the top few inches of snow on southerly, sun-exposed aspects. This snow will quickly refreeze once it is shaded. All avalanche activity will remain unlikely today.

The bottom line:

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Use normal caution when travelling in the backcountry.

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	32 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	47 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East northeast shifting to east southeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	25 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	49 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	59 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	41-48 deg. F.	21-31 deg. F.	42-49 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southeast	Southeast	Southeast
Wind speed:	10 mph	10 mph	10 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Sunday:	Sunday Night:	Monday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny
Temperatures:	38-45 deg. F.	26-32 deg. F.	37-44 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Southeast	Southeast	Southeast
Wind speed:	15-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph	15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph	10-20 mph with gusts to 35 mph decreasing to 25 mph in the afternoon
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.