Today, the avalanche danger should remain LOW for all aspects and elevations. Some sluffing may occur in the new snow today. Some very small, isolated, human-triggerable winds slabs may exist on wind-loaded aspects near and above treeline.

The Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center is closed for the season. Avalanche advisories will resume in the fall of 2009. Check back once the snow begins to fly.

Fall Avalanche Statement

Fall Conditions Update

Despite very little snow on the ground, conditions are complex and the snowpack structure is weak. Pay attention out there!

Complex conditions exist during the early season. On N-NE aspects above 8800 ft and steeper than 32 degrees where the combination of facets on top of an ice layer with new snow above exists the avalanche danger is MODERATE . Human-triggered avalanches will be possible on these slopes today.

Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger exist above 8,700' on NW-N-NE aspects 32 degrees and steeper both above and below treeline. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger exist above 8,700' on NW-N-NE aspects 32 degrees and steeper both above and below treeline. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW. Expect the avalanche danger to increase quickly this afternoon and overnight during the storm.

LOW avalanche danger exists across most of the forecast area. Some isolated pockets of MODERATE danger may still remain on NW-N-NE aspects steeper than 32 degrees above 8700'.

Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger linger above 8,700' in near treeline and below treeline areas on slopes 32 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

LOW avalanche danger exists in most areas. However, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger remain on NW-N-NE aspects above 8,000' in near-treeline and below-treeline areas on slopes 32 degrees and steeper.

For most areas, avalanche danger is LOW. Isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist above 8,000' both near treeline and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects, 32 degrees and steeper.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger is HIGH on NW-N-NE-E aspects 34 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger in open areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects and in creek beds 34 degrees and steeper.

Pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist on NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees at all elevations. MODERATE danger exists on cross-loaded NW and SE aspects steeper than 35 degrees near and above treeline.

Near and above treeline, pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger are expected to form today in wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects, 34 degrees and steeper. Below treeline avalanche danger is MODERATE on NW-N-NE aspects, 34 degrees and steeper due to continued instability of a variety of weak layers.

Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today in wind loaded areas near and above treeline on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects, 34 degrees and steeper. Near treeline and below treeline, avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on NW-N-NE aspects near and above 7,000' on slopes 32 degrees and steeper due to possible overloading of persistent weak layers near the base of the snowpack. In other areas, avalanche danger is MODERATE.

Near and below treeline MODERATE avalanche danger exists on NW-N-NE aspects steeper than 32 degrees, today. Human triggering of large, destructive avalanches with serious consequences will be possible in these areas. Above treeline pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on wind-loaded NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger is LOW with isolated pockets of MODERATE danger on wind loaded NW-N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Near treeline and below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger above 8,000' on NW-N-NE aspects, 35 degrees and steeper due to deep slab instability in some areas. Avalanches that occur below treeline may be large and destructive with severe consequences.

Near treeline and below treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist above 8,000' on NW-N-NE aspects, 35 degrees and steeper due to persistent deep slab instability. Above treeline and for all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near treeline and below treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist above 8,000' on NW-N-NE aspects, 35 degrees and steeper due to persistent deep slab instability. The avalanche danger should increase this afternoon due to new snow and wind. Areas of MODERATE danger will develop this afternoon and evening above treeline on wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist in wind loaded areas on SE-S-SW-W aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW. Deep slab instability is unlikely but not impossible below treeline at this time.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. Deep slab instability is unlikely but not impossible near treeline and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects above 8,000' at this time. The next scheduled update to this advisory will occur Dec 26 at 7am.

This morning LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations and on all aspects. This afternoon pockets of MODERATE danger may develop above treeline on the most heavily wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Isolated, deep-slab instability remains unlikely but not impossible near and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects above 8,000 ft. If more snow falls than forecasted, the avalanche danger will become more widespread.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist in wind loaded areas on N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger is MODERATE on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, pockets of MODERATE danger exist in open areas on NW-N-NE aspects, 37 degrees and steeper.

Near and above treeline, isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. By this afternoon small, isolated pockets of MODERATE danger should start to form on NE-E-SE-S aspects steeper than 35 degrees due to a shift in the wind direction. Avalanche danger in other areas will drop to LOW meaning that avalanche activity will be unlikely but not impossible.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Avalanche activity is unlikely but not impossible. Normal caution is advised.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised. If more precipitation falls than the forecast calls for, the avalanche danger may increase.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE around mid day with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger possible by late day on N-NE-E aspects 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE as the day progresses with periods of rain on new snow possible below 6,800'.

Near and above treeline MODERATE avalanche danger exists on wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects 35 degrees and steeper. Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger may form on the NW-W-SW aspects due to wind-loading by easterly winds on slopes steeper than 35 degrees near and above treeline today. Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger also remain on open, N-NE-E-facing slopes steeper than 37 degrees below treeline.

Avalanche danger is LOW all elevations and aspects. Normal caution is advised.

This morning, avalanche danger is MODERATE in wind loaded areas near and above treeline. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW. This afternoon, avalanche danger is expected to rise to CONSIDERABLE in wind loaded areas near and above treeline on NW-N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is expected to rise to MODERATE on all aspects, 35 degrees and steeper.

Near and above treeline the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Below treeline pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger exist on open, NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees. The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all other aspects. As more snow falls today, avalanches will become easier to trigger and more widespread.

Near and above treeline, pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist in wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, areas of MODERATE danger exist in wind affected areas on all aspects, 35 degrees and steeper.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger remain in wind loaded areas on N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline, pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist on wind-loaded N-NE-E aspects 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline the avalanche danger is MODERATE on open NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 37 degrees.

Above 8,000', pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exist in open wind affected areas both above and below treeline on NW-N-NE aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. For all other areas, avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger will form today in wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects, 37 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW in wind protected areas.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger remain on wind-loaded, NW-N-NE-E aspects, 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW in wind protected areas.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger exists in wind loaded areas. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW in wind protected areas.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger on NW-N-NE-E aspects 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, pockets of MODERATE danger exist in open wind affected areas 35 degrees and steeper.

Near and above treeline pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger remain on NW-N-NE-E aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Below treeline the avalanche danger is LOW.

Near and above treeline, pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger will form today in wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW in wind sheltered areas.

Avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Human triggered avalanches are unlikely but not impossible. Normal caution is advised.

This morning the avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Pockets of MODERATE danger may form on sun-exposed SE-S-SW-W aspects steeper than 35 degrees due to daytime warming today. Use normal caution when traveling in the backcountry.

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

Early this morning, avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Pockets of MODERATE danger will develop below 9,500' on E-SE-S-SW aspects, 35 degrees and steeper in response to daytime warming.

The avalanche danger will remain LOW for all elevations and aspects today. Expect the avalanche danger to increase over the 24 hours as a storm impacts the Central Sierra.

Near and above treeline, avalanche danger in MODERATE on all aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is LOW with pockets of MODERATE danger in open wind affected areas on all aspects 35 degrees and steeper. A significant variance in localized avalanche danger is anticipated today due to local variances in new snow accumulation.