Central Sierra Nevada

Firm snow surfaces and the potential of long sliding falls continue to be a hazard for today.  Avalanche activity remains unlikely with LOW avalanche danger at all elevations.  Normal caution is advised when traveling in the backcountry.

Normal caution

Sunny skies, warming temperatures, and light winds are expected today after a cold and very windy day yesterday.  The snowpack has had a solid refreeze with some snow surface softening expected today on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects as temperatures rise and the sun starts to melt the snow surface.  Very firm snow surfaces are expected this morning on all aspects and elevations with long sliding falls possible.  On NW-N-NE aspects, very firm rain crusts will not soften today at all and will pose continued travel concerns and fall hazards.  Finding areas with enough usable snow coverage on southerly aspects and timing when these slopes soften will be key today.  Make a travel plan that focuses on appropriate terrain for the current conditions and make sure to account for additional hazards from the firm snow surfaces.

Recent Observations:

* Observations were submitted from Castle Pass, in the Donner Summit area yesterday.  Gale force NE winds with very firm snow surface conditions were encountered.  Many down trees and branches were scattered throughout the area from the extreme winds.  Snowpack tests on the Dec 11 PWL on a West aspect did not show any unstable results.

* Limited snow coverage exists on SE-S-SW aspects throughout the forecast region.

* Widespread firm rain crusts cover the snow surface on NW-N-NE aspects at all elevations.

* In the northern 2/3rds of the forecast area, snowpit tests indicate that the Dec 11 persistent weak layer has gone dormant. Some unstable snowpit test results continue to occur in the southern 1/3rd of the forecast area, especially on the eastern side of the Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass areas, where the snowpack remains overall shallower and weaker.