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.
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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.
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March 26, 2013 at 6:32 am |
Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. |
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Cloud cover has increased over the forecast area during the past 24 hours. Mid and high level moisture has moved into the region and is here to stay for the rest of this week. A mix of cloud cover and occasional very light precipitation is expected today and tomorrow. Snow level is forecast to remain around 7,000'. Shower activity is expected to peak during the afternoon hours as daytime warming drives atmospheric instability. Any new snow accumulations are not expected to exceed trace accumulations. Ridgetop winds out of the southwest increased to strong in speed last night. Strong winds are forecast to continue through this morning and then ease to moderate speed this afternoon. Winds are forecast to remain out of the southwest, further decreasing in speed tonight and tomorrow. This morning, remote sensors above 8,000' are reporting air temperatures in the upper 20s to low 30s. Maximum daytime air temperatures for areas above 7,000' are expected to reach the low 30s to upper 40s.
Observations made yesterday on Jake's Peak (West shore Tahoe area) revealed a well established thick melt-freeze layer at the snow surface. Evidence of a very strong overnight refreeze of the surface snow was evident in this area on all NE-E-SE aspects traveled. At at 8,970' on an E aspect, this surface melt-freeze layer was 6 inches thick, very strong and supportable. Below this layer was 2 feet of lower density wet snow from the mid March warm period that was in a slow state of refreezing. Total depth of snow at that location was 5 feet. Very little snow existed in the area on E aspects below 7,000' (photo, more info).
Avalanche Problem #1: Loose Wet Avalanches
Cloud cover last night may have reduced the strength of overnight snow surface refreeze in some areas. This same cloud cover will also serve to slow the rate of snow surface melt today. While some amount of wet surface snow is likely to form today on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects, natural and human triggered loose wet snow avalanches are unlikely. Isolated areas where significant sun breaks occur today could hold locally greater avalanche danger.
0600 temperature: | 27 to 33 deg. F. |
Max. temperature in the last 24 hours: | 39 to 49 deg. F. |
Average wind direction during the last 24 hours: | Southwest |
Average wind speed during the last 24 hours: | 44 mph |
Maximum wind gust in the last 24 hours: | 65 mph |
New snowfall in the last 24 hours: | O inches |
Total snow depth: | 49 to 84 inches |
For 7000-8000 ft: |
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Tuesday: | Tuesday Night: | Wednesday: | |
Weather: | Mostly cloudy skies. Isolated snow showers in the afternoon. | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers. |
Temperatures: | 40 to 47 deg. F. | 25 to 32 deg. F. | 40 to 49 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | SW | SW | SW |
Wind speed: | 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph, decreasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph in the afternoon. | 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening. | 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. |
Expected snowfall: | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. |
For 8000-9000 ft: |
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Tuesday: | Tuesday Night: | Wednesday: | |
Weather: | Mostly cloudy skies. Isolated snow showers in the afternoon. | Mostly cloudy skies with isolated snow showers. | Mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of snow showers. |
Temperatures: | 31 to 44 deg. F. | 21 to 28 deg. F. | 36 to 43 deg. F. |
Wind direction: | SW | SW | SW |
Wind speed: | 40 to 45 mph with gusts to 75 mph, decreasing to 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 60 mph in the afternoon. | 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. | 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. |
Expected snowfall: | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. | 0 to trace in. |
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