Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center weather and snowpack information for December 29, 2007. MOUNTAIN WEATHER Morning temperatures are in the low 20s this morning. Expect cloudy skies with highs warming a few degrees to the upper 20s today. Scattered snow showers will continue for the mountains. The main weather story is the wind- strong west winds will buffet the area later today and into tonight. The weak storm tracking over the Reno area last night dropped 4-5 inches of new snow in the Sonora Pass area. Fallon and Winnemuca received more snow than Mammoth Mountain. This morning, snow sensors from the Tioga Pass area south to Rock Creek show up to an inch of snow has accumulated in the last 24 hours. To add insult to meager snowfall, strong west winds will move what little snow we have onto east facing aspects and back into the atmosphere. A wind advisory has been posted by the National Weather Service for noon to 10 PM today. Elevations above 10,000 ft are expected to have west wind gusts up to 75 mph. Monday and Tuesday are forecasted to be sunny and clear with highs in the low to mid 30s. New Years Day will be sunny. Winds will diminish to the 15-25 mph range on the ridgetops. Lows will be around 15 F. Temperatures this month have been similar to summer temperatures in Antarctica. OUTLOOK There is cautious optimism regarding a possible real Sierra storm event by the end of the week. By Wednesday the high pressure ridge that has been shunting storms to the north will move to the east. Good riddance. Last night, the Las Vegas NWS office discussion suggested two to three inches of water inundating Aspendell on Thursday and Friday. 2-3 inches of water is roughly equivalent to 2-3 feet of snow. While I dont think Thursday will be a big snowfall day, Friday morning through Saturday could see footage here. But before I get carried away, lets wait a couple of days and see how the forecast evolves. SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION There are two avalanche concerns right now. Snow banners off the high peaks are a sure sign wind loading is occurring. On Thursday afternoon, snow was being blown by strong west winds onto east facing slopes. Anytime you see snow banners, assume wind slabs are forming. With a variety of wind directions this last week, wind drifts and wind slabs have formed on all the slopes we like to ski. Pay attention to these wind loading patterns when you travel in the backcountry. These highly variable conditions could soon be covered with new snowfall if weather forecasts verify next week. Over the past few days, 2-5 inches of new snow have been blown around, leaving wind stripped as well as wind loaded areas. Scattered snow showers today add another thin layer to the snowpack. If you are traveling above treeline, it is possible that you might trigger a slab avalanche. The second avalanche concern is the weak faceted snowpack. Cold temperatures and a shallow snowpack are the perfect conditions for a facet factory. As seen by recent events on Mammoth Mountain and Utah, depth hoar snow is very unpredictable. Even with a shallow snowpack, there is a chance a person could load the weak facets and trigger an avalanche. In the few places where there is enough snow to ski, the avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW with MODERATE danger in high alpine zones. Keep in mind that with a MODERATE danger rating there is still a possibility of human triggered avalanches. Slope by slope evaluation should take place as you move through the backcountry. Watch out for rocks, trees, stumps, clotheslines and other natural and human obstacles. BOTTOM LINE In the few places where there is enough snow to ski, the avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW with MODERATE danger in high alpine zones. Keep in mind that with a MODERATE danger rating there is still a possibility of human triggered avalanches. Slope by slope evaluation should take place as you move through the backcountry. Watch out for rocks, trees, stumps, clotheslines and other natural and human obstacles. Please note that the avalanche danger rating in this advisory expires in 24 hours. This advisory is our best interpretation of snow pack conditions and NWS forecasts issued today. Backcountry travelers should be aware that elevation and geographic distinctions are approximate and that a transition zone exists between upper and lower elevations. Avalanches do not happen by accident and most human involvement is a matter of choice not chance. Most avalanche accidents are caused by slab avalanches that are triggered by the victim of member of the victim's party. Even small slides can be dangerous. Always practice route finding skills and carry avalanche rescue gear. Remember that avalanche danger ratings are only general guidelines. Distinctions between geographic areas, elevations, slope aspects and slope angles should be made.