Truckee, California – Backcountry travel across the central Sierra Nevada is becoming increasingly dangerous as a powerful winter storm drives heavy snowfall and strong winds into the region, raising the risk for large and potentially deadly avalanches through Sunday night.
According to the U.S. Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center, a Backcountry Avalanche Watch is in effect for the mountains between Yuba Pass along Highway 49 and Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4, including the greater Lake Tahoe area on both the California and Nevada sides. The watch began late Saturday afternoon and extends through early Sunday morning, with dangerous conditions likely lingering into Sunday night as snowfall continues.
Rapid snow accumulation combined with gusty winds is expected to overload existing snowpack, creating unstable slabs on steep slopes. Avalanche experts warn that natural and human-triggered avalanches are possible, with some large enough to bury or seriously injure people traveling in backcountry terrain.
The watch applies only to unmanaged backcountry areas. Ski resorts and major highways are excluded due to active avalanche mitigation. Officials strongly advise avoiding travel in, near, or below avalanche-prone terrain during periods of high danger.
Additional advisories or upgrades may be issued as the storm evolves. Backcountry users should monitor updates from the Sierra Avalanche Center and be prepared for rapidly changing mountain conditions through the remainder of the weekend.
