The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains from Ebbetts Pass (CA-4) north to Yuba Pass (CA-49), encompassing the greater Lake Tahoe area. The warning highlights the imminent HIGH avalanche danger expected to persist through Monday morning, prompting caution and vigilance among residents and backcountry enthusiasts.
The warning comes in response to a powerful winter storm with high-intensity snowfall and strong winds, creating widespread areas of unstable snow. The Sierra Avalanche Center anticipates natural avalanches to occur over the next 24 hours, with the potential for large, long-running avalanches in various backcountry areas.
“Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended,” cautions the Sierra Avalanche Center. The warning is an urgent advisory to those considering venturing into the backcountry during this period of heightened avalanche risk.