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 advisory was posted on March 26, 2008 6:49 AM

A map of the SAC forecast area is available on our home page.

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Today's Advisory:

In most areas, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Very isolated pockets of MODERATE danger may develop below 8,000' on SE-S-SW aspects, 40 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

A weather system is passing to the north of the forecast area. Strong winds, increasing cloud cover, and cooler air temperatures are expected today. Southwest ridgetop winds increased from moderate to strong during the overnight hours. Remote sensors above 7,000' report air temperatures are below freezing this morning.

Yesterday, partly cloudy skies and warm air temperatures at the lower elevations created melting of surface snow on all aspects below 8,000'. Observations made near Bonita Saddle (South of Yuba Pass) showed that boot penetration in wet snow ranged from 4 to 6 inches in most areas below 8,000' by 2:30 pm. No other indicators of wet snow instability were observed from snowmobile travel on NE-E aspect slopes up to 38 degrees and on low angle SE-S-SW-W aspect slopes. Overnight, mostly clear skies, radiational cooling, and below freezing air temperatures have allowed wet surface snow that formed yesterday to refreeze in all areas.

Today, some melting of surface snow will occur, especially in areas below 8,000'. On southerly aspects where the greatest amount of solar radiation is received, well established melt water pathways exist within the snowpack. Any areas of wet snow instability will be limited to very isolated pockets of terrain in very steep areas. Human triggered avalanches may become possible today in very isolated areas on SE-S-SW aspects. Natural avalanches remain unlikely.

The bottom line: In most areas, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Very isolated pockets of MODERATE danger may develop below 8,000' on SE-S-SW aspects, 40 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

Public donations to the avalanche center this season are below our fundraising goal. We are going to raffle a beacon, shovel, probe, and backpack package as a way give back to those who donate $100 or more before March 30th. For more information on the raffle and amount of donations received click here.

Brandon Schwartz, Avalanche Forecaster

Today's Central Sierra Weather Observations:
0600 temperature at Sierra Crest (8,700 feet): 23 deg. F
Max. temperature at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 37 deg. F.
Average wind direction at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: Southwest
Average wind speed at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 59 mph
Maximum wind gust at Sierra Crest past 24 hours: 94 mph
New snowfall at 8,200 feet past 24 hours: 0 inches
Total snow depth at 8,200 feet: 79 inches

Mountain Weather Forecast For Today:
Windy with increasing cloud cover.
Temperature forecast for 8,000 to 9,000 feet: 27 to 37 deg. F
Ridgetop winds forecast for the Sierra Crest: Southwest at 55 to 70 mph with gusts to 95 mph. Winds decreasing to 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 70 mph in the afternoon.
Snowfall expected in the next 24 hours: 0 inches

2 Day Mountain Weather Forecast:

7000 to 8000 Feet:
Today, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 37 to 45 deg. F. Southwest winds at 25 to 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows around 19 deg. F. Southwest winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

For Thursday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 36 to 42 deg. F. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the morning.

Above 8000 Feet:

Today, mostly cloudy skies with daytime highs 27 to 37 deg. F. Southwest winds at 40 to 55 mph with gusts to 75 mph. Winds decreasing to 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 70 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies with overnight lows 12 to 18 deg. F. Southwest winds at 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 70 mph. Winds shifting to west at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph after midnight.

For Thursday, partly cloudy skies with daytime highs 29 to 37 deg. F. West winds at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Winds shifting to southwest at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon.

The bottom line:

Andy Anderson - Avalanche Forecaster, Tahoe National Forest

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

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

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

For 7000-8000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.
For 8000-9000 ft:
	Wednesday:	Wednesday Night:	Thursday:
Weather:
Temperatures:	deg. F.	deg. F.	deg. F.
Wind direction:
Wind speed:
Expected snowfall:	O in.	O in.	O in.