Tahoe: Avalanche Advisory

[freshies]

SNOW AVALANCHE BULLETIN
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
842 AM PST WED MAR 23 2005


THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE IN TRUCKEE CALIFORNIA HAS ISSUED AN
AVALANCHE ADVISORY FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY OF THE CENTRAL SIERRA BETWEEN
YUBA PASS AND SONORA PASS.

THE AVALANCHE HAZARD IS HIGH ABOVE 7000 FEET.

THIS ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM THURSDAY MARCH 24.

HIGH AVALANCHE HAZARD INDICATES THAT UNSTABLE SNOW EXISTS IN THE
BACKCOUNTRY. AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY ON A VARIETY OF ASPECTS AND SLOPE
ANGLES. SAFEST TRAVEL IS ON WINDWARD RIDGES OF LOWER ANGLE SLOPES
WITHOUT STEEPER TERRAIN ABOVE. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT
RECOMMENDED.

[FollowMe]

For some reason this doesn't surprise me, seeing as though Kirkwood is reporting up to 8 feet at the higher elevations over the last 4 days. There's plenty inbounds going off right now. No reason to be heading into the backcountry just yet.

[splat]

It's those 20 foot winds that were forecast last week.

[bcrider]

Yeah, the windslabs are gonna be huge.

[Greydon Clark]

Hopefully the new snow is bonding, but I bet we see some big naturals before that happens. Is it going to stay cold between now and Saturday?

[Alkasquawlik]

Hopefully the new snow is bounding,

Haven't seen and bounding snow yet...

[Ubersheist]

Haven't seen and bounding snow yet...

Just wait until the 20-foot winds hit...

[G]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/docume...t_advisory.htm

[bcrider]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/docume...t_advisory.htm

Decreasing winds and minimal overnight precipitation are giving the snowpack a chance to bond and stabilize. Formal tests continue to produce shears 4 to 5 feet deep in the storm snow layer and at the buried melt freeze crust found at the old/storm snow interface. Easy human triggering of avalanches is still occurring on test slopes. Significant avalanche danger continues to exist in the backcountry. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE near and above treeline on NW through SE aspects steeper than 32 degrees. Below treeline, avalanche danger is MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Despite a decrease in natural avalanche activity, human triggered avalanches should be expected by backcountry travelers. Some avalanche activity may be surprisingly large.

Mountain Weather 2 Day Forecast
Mostly cloudy skies today with scattered snow showers. Mountain valley highs 32 to 42 degrees. Overnight lows 18 to 28 degrees. Friday will be partly cloudy with mountain valley highs 37 to 47 degrees. Moderate southwest winds will continue to decrease Thursday before an increase in speed and easterly shift overnight into Friday. Moderate southwest winds are forecast to return Friday afternoon.

Today's Safety Tip
Do not let your guard down as this storm subsides. Significant instability remains in the snowpack and is waiting patiently for you to apply to needed trigger. Human triggered avalanches will occur today if you apply the trigger on steep terrain. Utilize safe, protected routes in all aspects of travel for ascending, descending, and traversing. Strive to pick the best areas and do not let convenience lead you into questionable terrain.