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 January 8, 2009:

January 8, 2009 at 7:37 am

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

Forecast Discussion:

A weather system will pass to the north of the forecast area today. Increasing clouds and decreasing air temperatures are expected through the afternoon. Westerly ridgetop winds have increased overnight to moderate in speed. Wind speeds are expected to remain moderate to strong through this evening. No precipitation from this weather system is expected to affect the forecast area.

Recent observations from the Bear Valley, Desolation Wilderness, West Shore Lake Tahoe, Donner Summit, and Mount Rose areas all indicate a generally stable snowpack at this time. Snow surface conditions consist mainly of supportable melt-freeze crust and supportable wind affected snow. At higher elevations, a few isolated pockets of unconsolidated surface snow exist below treeline on wind protected north aspects.

Some melting of surface snow will occur today in nearly all sun exposed areas and at lower elevations in shaded areas. Any wet snow instability that may occur is expected to be very small. This should not pose a significant threat to backcountry travelers. As always, use good travel habits to minimize risk.


The bottom line:

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


Brandon Schwartz - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature: 34 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: 45 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: West
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: 23 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: 65 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours: O inches
Total snow depth: 63 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
  Thursday: Thursday Night: Friday:
Weather: Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Clear skies. Sunny skies.
Temperatures: 38 to 45 in the morning, falling in the afternoon to near 35 deg. F. 19 to 26 deg. F. 35 to 40 deg. F.
Wind direction: W NW shifting to N by midnight. NE shifting to E
Wind speed: 15 to 25 mph with gusts 40 to 45 mph. 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph by midnight. Up to 10 mph in the morning, increasing to 10 to 20 mph by afternoon.
Expected snowfall: O in. O in. O in.

For 8000-9000 ft:
  Thursday: Thursday Night: Friday:
Weather: Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Clear skies. Sunny skies.
Temperatures: 35 to 40 in the morning, falling in the afternoon to around 27 to 33 deg. F. 20 to 25 deg. F. 32 to 37 deg. F.
Wind direction: W N shifting to NE after midnight. NE to E
Wind speed: 30 to 40 mph with gusts 75 to 90 mph. 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph, decreasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph after midnight. 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Expected snowfall: O in. O in. O in.