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Small Slide Observed on E/NE Aspect Near Treeline

Location Name: 
Backside of Coyote
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Sat, 01/08/2022 - 1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Public
Red Flags:
Recent avalanche activity

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 20' 4.9344" N, 122° 11' 39.0696" W
California US

Avalanche Observations

Photos

Characteristics

Avalanche Type: 
Slab
Trigger type: 
Natural
Slope: 
37degrees
Aspect: 
East
Elevation: 
6 800ft.
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Width: 
30ft.
Avalanche Length: 
30ft.
Number of people caught: 
0

Weather Observations

Details

AM bellow 20F, afternoon 35F

First big warming event since prior to the last storm cycle.

This small slide (D.5) slid on the rain/freeze layer. This is suspected to have initiated under a cornice forming on leeward terrain some time before noon. We do not think it was caused from cornice break.

ECTN 20 at the rain/freeze crust 20cm bellow surface. *This site experiences skier compaction, though the new snow fall from 1/6-7 had not yet seen skier traffic before this slid occurred.

My thoughts are that this wind slab was touchy in the am with cool overnight lows, then trended towards stable throughout the day with gradually warming temps.

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Speed: 
Calm