The following message is transmitted at the request of the U.S. Forest Service Sierra Avalanche Center. BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED 19:00 PST Sat Jan 20 2024 The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Reno NV - NVZ002 (Greater Lake Tahoe)...CAZ072 (Greater Lake Tahoe (CA)) * WHAT...Periods of HIGH avalanche danger are expected to occur in the backcountry from Saturday night into early Tuesday morning. * WHERE...Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. This does not include ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist. * WHEN...In effect from Sat 19:00 PST to Tue 07:00 PST. * IMPACTS...Winter storms with new snow and strong winds will load existing weak layers buried in the snowpack and may result in widespread avalanche activity in the mountains. Large avalanches could occur in a variety of backcountry areas. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Very dangerous avalanche conditions may occur. Traveling in, near, or below backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended during HIGH avalanche danger. Consult https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/ or www.avalanche.org for more detailed information. Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.