This forecast is vaild for 48 hours. We will update it again on Dec. 26th.

Below and above treeline CONSIDERABLE the avalanche danger exists on all aspects on slopes steeper than 33 degrees due to wind slabs and heavy snow loads sitting on an a weak snowpack. Large, destructive human triggered avalanches will remain likely. Natural avalanches will remain possible. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making are essential.

The avalanche danger is HIGH at all elevations on the NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes steeper than 33 degrees due to new snow loading an already weak snowpack. Large, destructive human triggered and natural avalanches will be widespread today. Very Dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommenced.

Both above and below treeline, avalanche danger is MODERATE on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to wind slabs and persistent slabs. Large and destructive human triggered avalanches are possible in these areas. For other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger remain on the NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees due to fragile wind slabs resting on buried weak layers. Below treeline, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind loaded NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches will be possible in many areas today and likely in some of the most heavily wind loaded areas.

Near and above treeline, the avalanche danger remains MODERATE on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to continued wind and snow. Below treeline, the avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger on wind loaded NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. Isolated areas of instability may exist, especially in extreme terrain.

Near and above treeline the avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE on NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees due to new snow and wind. Pockets of MODERATE danger may form on those aspects in wind loaded below treeline terrain as well. Human triggered avalanches will be possible today. Use caution and evaluate snow covered slopes carefully when traveling in the backcountry.

The avalanche danger remains LOW for all elevations and aspects. Continue to use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry. Icy slopes pose the greatest hazard by making long sliding falls that are difficult to control or arrest a real possibility today.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. Long, unarrested sliding falls down icy slopes leading to impact with trees or rocks is likely the greatest hazard in the backcountry today.

Above 9000 ft in near and above treeline terrain, MODERATE avalanche danger may linger on pockets of NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees due to wind slabs. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger remains MODERATE on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees due to lingering wind slabs and rain on snow today and tonight. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger on snow-covered slopes steeper than 35 degrees that receive rain today. Expect the avalanche danger to increase as more rain, snow, and wind impact the forecast area tonight and tomorrow.

Both above and below treeline, avalanche danger is HIGH on all aspects on slopes 32 degrees and steeper due to rain on new snow up to 10,000'.Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Near and above treeline on NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees the avalanche danger is HIGH due to intense snowfall, gale force winds, and persistent weak layers in the snowpack. Below treeline the danger on these aspects is CONSIDERABLE. Large human triggered and natural avalanche are likely today. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Today the avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE on near and above treeline NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees due to new snow and wind impacting the forecast area. In other areas the avalanche danger should remain LOW. A few very isolated areas of unstable snow may exist above 9,000' on NW-N-NE aspects in complex or extreme terrain in areas of LOW danger.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Very isolated areas of unstable snow may exist above 9,000' on NW-N-NE aspects in complex or extreme terrain.

For most of the area the avalanche danger remains LOW. A few small isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may still exist on near and above treeline NW-N-NE aspects steeper than 35 degrees. LOW danger does not mean no danger.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to recently formed wind slabs and ongoing persistent slabs. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW. The next update to this advisory will occur on Friday, November 23rd.

Near and above treeline, lingering pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on NW-N-NE aspects on slope 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Rain on snow, strong winds, and new snowfall will create areas of MODERATE avalanche danger on both above and below treeline NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger remains LOW.

Early season conditions update #5

We are returning to full staffing levels this week. We plan to resume daily avalanche advisories as storm systems affect the forecast area at the end of this week. In the mean time we will continue sharing all of the information we gather on our observations page.

Early season conditions update #3

We do not have enough information to issue regular avalanche advisories. We have started to collect data and will be sharing all of the information we gather on our observations page and in intermittent updates to this page. We plan to resume daily avalanche advisories in November as conditions dictate.

Early season conditions update #1

We are just beginning to collect field data on current snowpack and avalanche conditions. At this time we do not have sufficient information to issue avalanche advisories, but we are working to share the information that we do know. Daily avalanche advisories are planned to resume in November as conditions dictate. Intermittent early season updates to this page will occur earlier as conditions warrant.

We have stopped issuing daily avalanche advisories until the fall of 2012. The avalanche danger can and will change quickly this spring. Continue to monitor changing conditions and use caution when traveling in the backcountry. For general spring avalanche information read the full spring avalanche statement.

This morning, MODERATE avalanche danger exists near and above treeline in recently wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. A transition will occur during the late morning and afternoon hours to warming and wet snow instability. Pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger are expected to form at all elevations on all aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper by this afternoon.

Widespread MODERATE avalanche danger will form on all aspects at all elevations on slopes 30 degrees and steeper due to daytime warming and rain on the snowpack today. If more rain impacts the area than forecasted, the danger of wet avalanches will increase.

Widespread MODERATE avalanche danger will form quickly today on all aspects at all elevations on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming. Pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger may form this afternoon on slopes 37 degrees and steeper. The majority of instability that occurs today is likely to be human triggered, but natural avalanches are possible in isolated areas.

Widespread MODERATE avalanche danger will form quickly today on all aspects at all elevations on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming. Pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger may form this afternoon on slopes 37 degrees and steeper. The vast majority of instability that occurs today is likely to be human triggered, but an isolated natural avalanche event is not out of the question.

MODERATE avalanche danger will form quickly today on all aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper at all elevations in response to daytime warming.

Both above and below treeline widespread MODERATE avalanche danger will quickly form today on all aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

Both above and below treeline widespread MODERATE avalanche danger will form on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming. On NW-N-NE aspects, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger in wind loaded areas both above and below treeline on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Areas of unstable snow will exist within surrounding areas of seemingly stable snow.

On slopes steeper than 35 degrees near and above treeline, CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will exist on N-NE-E aspects with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger on the NW and SE aspects due to new snow and wind loading. Pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger may also exist on below treeline NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are likely today, and natural avalanche are possible.

This morning the avalanche danger remains LOW on all aspects and at all elevations. Near and above treeline some pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form this afternoon on N-NE-E aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees due to new snow and wind loading. The avalanche danger will continue to increase over the next few days as more wind and snow impact the region.

Early this morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. MODERATE avalanche danger will develop in response to daytime warming on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects at all elevations on slopes 35 degrees and steeper.

On slopes steeper than 35 degrees, MODERATE avalanche danger may form today on SE-S-SW aspects with pockets of MODERATE danger on the E and W aspects due to daytime warming. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW. 

Isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may still remain in the most heavily wind loaded areas on N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in near and above treeline terrain. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Both above and below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger on all aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to warming instability and persistent deep slab instability.

Pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist at all elevations on the N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to new wind slabs and ongoing deep slab avalanche concerns. MODERATE avalanche danger exists on all other aspects at all elevations.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists on all aspects at all elevations on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to a combination of warming instability, recent wind slabs, and ongoing deep slab avalanche concerns.

Near and above treeline avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to newly formed storm slabs, wind slabs, and ongoing persistent deep slab instability. Large destructive deep slab avalanches remain possible both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects. For all other areas, avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes 35 degrees and steeper.

On slopes 35 degrees and steeper, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects and on near and above treeline E-SE aspects due to ongoing persistent deep slab instability and some new shallow wind slabs. Large destructive deep slab avalanches remain possible. For all other areas, avalanche danger is generally LOW.

Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to ongoing persistent deep slab instability and some new shallow wind slabs. Large destructive human triggered deep slab avalanches remain possible in these areas. For all other areas, avalanche danger is generally LOW with isolated pockets of MODERATE danger below 8,500' on slopes 37 degrees and steeper due to wet snow instability.

Very isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to ongoing persistent deep slab instability. Large destructive human triggered deep slab avalanches remain possible in these areas. For all other areas, avalanche danger is generally LOW with isolated pockets of MODERATE danger below 8,500' on slopes 37 degrees and steeper due to wet snow instability.

Both above and below treeline, MODERATE avalanche danger remains on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Even though avalanches have become more difficult to trigger today, huge, dangerous  deep slab avalanches with serious consequences remain possible on these aspects. On all other aspects pockets of  MODERATE danger exist on slopes 35 degrees and steeper.

Both above and below treeline, MODERATE avalanche danger remains on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Even though avalanches may be more difficult to trigger today, huge, dangerous  deep slab avalanches with serious consequences remain possible today.

Both above and below treeline, avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is MODERATE.

HIGH avalanche danger is expected tonight and tomorrow morning.

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at all elevations on NW-N-NE-E aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to ongoing deep slab instability, new snow, wind loading, and rain on snow. Large destructive human triggered avalanches are likely in these areas. Pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger may also form on all other aspects aspects below 8000 ft due to rain on snow. South of Hwy 50 and east of Lake Tahoe where less snow has fallen less avalanche danger exists.

MODERATE avalanche danger will become more widespread on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper in both above and below treeline terrain due to ongoing deep slab instability, new snow, and wind loading. The possibility of large destructive human triggered avalanches remains in these areas. Pockets of MODERATE danger should also form on wind-loaded and cross-loaded E and SE aspects. Some natural avalanche activity may become possible tonight due to more intense snowfall and continued wind loading.

Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to ongoing deep slab instability. The possibility of large destructive human triggered avalanches remains in these areas. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper due to ongoing deep slab instability. The possibility of large destructive human triggered avalanches remains in these areas. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.