Good morning, this is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center with an avalanche advisory posted for Thursday March 27, 2008. MOUNTAIN WEATHER After a very windy day from Lone Pine to Bridgeport yesterday, west winds will decrease to breezy conditions today. West winds from 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 to 50 mph are expected above 9,000 ft. For the high elevations in Inyo County, winds will be stronger with steady winds between 30-40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. Temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer with highs in the upper 30s at 9,000 ft and low 30s above 10,000 ft. Morning lows this morning are running a few degrees colder than yesterday, especially in sheltered locations like Slide Mountain and Charlotte Lake. Today is the break between wind events with another high wind watch posted for Mono County beginning tomorrow afternoon through late Friday night. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected along the 395 corridor with ridgetop wind gusts in the 90 mph range. This mornings discussion from Las Vegas mentioned winds for Inyo County but NWS will not be posting a high wind watch at this point. Saturday will be the coldest day with northerly winds. Forecast models do not show much precipitation for the eastern Sierra this weekend. It will be cold and showery at the higher elevations. Longer range forecasts are talking about the MJO again bringing a pattern change to California by next week. For us, this means snow though how much is not known this far out. SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION Spring has fallen back to late winter with cooler temperatures and strong to extreme winds. Some locations above 9,000 ft had have 48 hours of wind gusts over 40 mph. The colder temperatures are good for snowpack stability because earlier in the week there were two nights without a good freeze above 9,000 ft. Yesterdays winds and kept the snow surface cold and firm most of the day especially above 9,000 ft. Southern aspects did get some surface melt. With less wind today, southern slopes could see some softening in the afternoon. Northern aspects have yet to receive enough energy to melt the surface snow and with showery and windy weather for the weekend and possible storms for next week, it may be a couple of weeks before northern aspects begin the transition to spring conditions. The avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW today. There might be some low and mid elevation southern aspects that could see softening snow later in the day and it might be possible to trigger a wet slide. In these places, the avalanche danger could rise to MODERATE. Mid elevation means 8,000 to 9,500 ft in the Bridgeport area and 9,000 to 10,000 ft in the Mammoth area. South of Mammoth where the Sierra crest reaches to 13,000 and 14,000 ft, mid elevations are 10,000 to 11,500 ft. Today will be a good day to get out before the winds pick up again tomorrow. BOTTOM LINE The avalanche danger is estimated to be LOW today. There might be some low and mid elevation southern aspects that could see softening snow later in the day and it might be possible to trigger a wet slide. In these places, the avalanche danger could rise to MODERATE. 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.