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 high pressure ridge over the region should allow the calm, clear weather to continue. Like yesterday, air temperatures above 7000 ft should reach into the low to mid 30's today. This ridge should also allow light easterly winds to continue. This morning an inversion exists below 7000 ft with temperatures in the teens and some valley fog. Calm, clear weather should allow these inversions to continue.

Observations:

On Waterhouse Peak yesterday, cold, soft unconsolidated snow remained on the snow surface on the sheltered E-NE-N-NW aspects. Hand pits, layer bonding tests, and ski cuts on steep test slopes showed stable results in this area. Significant settlement and consolidation continues to occur in the snowpack. On Echo Peak above treeline on open slopes exposed to the east winds, firm, wind-affected snow existed on the snow surface. On some of the lower-elevation, SW-W, sun-exposed aspects, along Hwy 89 some small, inconsequential roller balls did occur near exposed cliffs. 

Avalanche Concerns:

Continued settlement and consolidation in the snowpack, mild weather, and light winds will all work together to allow the snowpack to strengthen. Avalanche activity should remain unlikely today. Unlikely does not mean impossible. Some isolated pockets of unstable snow could still lurk on isolated terrain features like very steep couliors or steep unsupported snowfields. Continue to travel with caution and evaluate slopes carefully.

Some roller balls and small wet, loose snow sluffs may continue to occur today due to daytime warming. These should remain very small and not entrain enough snow to snow to bury a person or pose much of a threat to people due to gradual warming, weak early winter sunshine, and short days . They should remain limited to isolated areas on sun-exposed aspects on the southerly half of the compass.

The bottom line:

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations and on all aspects today. LOW danger does not mean no danger. Even though dangerous avalanche activity should remain unlikely it is not impossible. Continue to use normal caution when traveling 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:	28-32 deg. F.
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours:	32-37 deg. F.
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours:	East and Northeast
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours:	0-10 mph
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours:	21 mph
New snowfall in the last 24 hours:	O inches
Total snow depth:	75-103 inches

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny in the morning becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon
Temperatures:	29-36 deg. F.	13-23 deg. F.	31-38 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	Variable	Variable
Wind speed:	Light	Light	LIght
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:	Sunny	Clear	Sunny in the morning becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon
Temperatures:	28-35 deg. F.	18-26 deg. F.	30-37 deg. F.
Wind direction:	Northeast	East	Southeast shifting to the east during the day
Wind speed:	10-15 mph decreasing in the afternoon	10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph after midnight	around 10 mph
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.