The last avalanche forecast for the 2023-2024 season posted on April 21st. Thank you to all who contributed to the avalanche center this season through observations, volunteer time, and/or financial contributions.
In partnership with: 
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 13, 2009:
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January 13, 2009 at 7:51 am |
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The avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Use normal caution. |
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Forecast Discussion:
The high pressure ridge over the forecast area will continue to cause sunny, warm, and windy weather today. Remote sensors already indicate temperatures along the Sierra Crest in the high 30's to low 40's this morning. Daytime highs should reach into the upper 40's and low 50's by this afternoon. Overnight lows dropped below freezing, and they should do so again tonight. The easterly winds should start to decrease today as the high pressure starts to creep slowly east.
Yesterday observations near Carson Pass, near Castle Peak, and in the Mt. Rose area continue to show a variety of hard, wind-buffed snow, melt-freeze snow, supportable crusts, and breakable crusts on the surface in most areas. Even though temperatures did not reach the forecasted highs yesterday, the snow surface did soften on open, sun exposed, southerly aspects below 8800'. Unfortunately, these aspects also have the least amount of snow on them. Areas of dirt and rocks still exist on many open, southerly aspects. By late afternoon yesterday, the soft surface snow had started to refreeze. With last night's clear skies and below freezing temperatures, this refreeze should have continued.
Today the surface snow should soften again on open, sun-exposed, southerly aspects below 8800' due to daytime warming. These surfaces will quickly refreeze as soon as they lose direct sun. The cool northeast winds and the weak January sun combined with the prolonged melt-freeze cycle should keep wet snow avalanche activity unlikely today.
Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest
Weather Observations from along the Sierra Crest between 8200 ft and 8800 ft:
| 0600 temperature: | 35-38 deg. F. |
| Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 38-42 deg. F. |
| Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | East northeast |
| Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 35-40 mph |
| Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 81 mph |
| New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | O inches |
| Total snow depth: | 60 inches |
Two-Day Mountain Weather Forecast - Produced in partnership with the Reno NWS
For 7000-8000 ft: |
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| Tuesday: | Tuesday Night: | Wednesday: | |
| Weather: | Sunny | Clear | Sunny |
| Temperatures: | 46-56 deg. F. | 25-35 deg. F. | 46-56 deg. F. |
| Wind direction: | East | East | East |
| Wind speed: | 10-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph | 10-15 mph | 10-15 mph |
| Expected snowfall: | O in. | O in. | O in. |
For 8000-9000 ft: |
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| Tuesday: | Tuesday Night: | Wednesday: | |
| Weather: | Sunny | Clear | Sunny |
| Temperatures: | 42-52 deg. F. | 31-41 deg. F. | 42-53 deg. F. |
| Wind direction: | East | Northeast | Northeast |
| Wind speed: | 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph | 15-25 mph with gusts to 45 mph | 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph |
| Expected snowfall: | O in. | O in. | O in. |
