Central Sierra Nevada

Gale force NE winds with below freezing temperatures will create widespread firm snow surfaces that are not expected to soften today.  Challenging travel conditions due to high winds and firm snow are the largest concern today with long sliding falls possible.  Avalanches remain unlikely today with LOW avalanche danger at all elevations.   

Normal caution

Well below freezing temperatures overnight with gale force NE winds will leave rock solid firm conditions for today.  Limited softening of the snowpack is expected with high temperatures remaining below freezing above 7000' and continued gale force NE winds.  Firm icy crusts will make travel conditions very difficult with long sliding falls a very real concern for today.  Ridgetop travel will be difficult to impossible due to the high wind speeds and cold temperatures.  Finding all the ingredients for good skiing will be challenging today.  You will need wind protected SE-S-SW aspects, a usable snowpack on these aspects, and a way to travel there and back safely with the current conditions.  Make sure to create a travel plan that focuses on appropriate terrain for our current conditions that takes into account the additional hazards created by the firm snow and high winds.  

Recent Observations:

* Melt freeze conditions occurred over the past few days on E-SE-S-SW-W aspects. Limited snow coverage exists on these aspects.

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

* 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.