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.

The ridge of high pressure that has brought sunny skies to the forecast area for the past two days is beginning to shift east ahead of an approaching storm system. Warming air temperatures and increasing southwest winds are expected today before another round of snowfall occurs tomorrow. An air temperature inversion is in place this morning with the coldest air below about 7,700'. Ridgetop winds shifted from east to southwest overnight with increasingly stronger gusts expected as the day progresses. This will serve to mix out the air temperature inversion in the mountains and allow for near to above freezing air temperatures today at nearly all elevations.

Observations:

Observations made yesterday on Castle Peak (Donner Summit area) revealed minor east wind transport of snow, continued settlement, and increasing strength within the recent storm snow (photo and pit profile). The storm snow layer from this past weekend was well bonded to the old early November snow layer at the base of the snowpack. In the vast majority of areas, recent observations have shown that the old early November snow layer at the base of the snowpack is in a state of transitioning from facets to rounds and is gaining strength. To the contrary, one recent observation from Silver Peak (Pole Creek area) showed a more well developed basal facet layer through which fracture propagation was possible.

Avalanche Concern #1: Deep slabs

The concern for deep slab instability is very isolated at best. However, strengthening of the recent storm snow is setting up possible deep slab instability conditions as the weakest portion of the snowpack shifts to the bottom. This makes for a deep cohesive slab of recent storm snow with the weak layer at the interface with the early November old snow layer. With the vast majority of recent field observations showing basal snowpack layer stability and the occasional outlier pointing towards instability, this concern is supported by minimal data and refuted by the majority of field data. Due to the potential consequences of a very isolated but large human triggered avalanche event, this concern cannot be ignored. The most likely location for this event to occur is in near treeline areas on N-NE aspects where a more well developed layer of basal facets exists.

Avalanche Concern #2: Wind loading

Strengthening of southwest ridgetop winds today will cause some wind transport of snow. Very small pockets of wind loading and new slab formation are expected today near and above treeline in lee areas. New slabs today are expected to be very small and not present a significant hazard to backcountry travelers. The exception is locations with significant secondary terrain hazards such as cliffs and deep terrain traps that create significant consequences to anyone caught in an otherwise small and inconsequential avalanche.

The bottom line:

Near and above treeline, very isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may exist on N-NE aspects, 37 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Brandon Schwartz - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

0600 temperature:	23 to 33 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	35 to 39 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East shifting to southwest.
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	22 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	57 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	33 to 46 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny skies in the morning, becoming partly cloudy.	Mostly cloudy skies.	Cloudy skies with snow.
Temperatures:	33 to 40 deg. F.	16 to 23 deg. F.	28 to 34 deg. F.
Wind direction:	SW	SW	SW
Wind speed:	10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.	10 to 15 mph with gusts to 40 mph.	15 to 25 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	4 to 8 in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Friday:	Friday Night:	Saturday:
Weather:	Sunny skies in the morning, becoming partly cloudy.	Mostly cloudy skies.	Cloudy skies with snow.
Temperatures:	31 to 38 deg. F.	15 to 22 deg. F.	20 to 27 deg. F.
Wind direction:	SW	SW	SW
Wind speed:	20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph. Gusts increasing to 55 mph in the afternoon.	25 to 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Gusts increasing to 60 mph after midnight.	30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph.
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	6 to 9 in.