Temperatures at the Old Ski Bowl have ranged from 29 to 51 ºF. Winds have been light. The status of the snow pack throughout the zone is:
Weather Station | Height of Snow (in) | 7-Day Settlement (in) |
Old Ski Bowl | 64.3 | 7.1 |
Castle Lake | 38.2 | 2.7 |
Mount Eddy | 40.6 | 3.5 |
Ash Creek Butte | 41.7 | 1.3 |
On Mount Shasta, wide open slopes of smooth snow are getting harder to find for sliding enthusiasts. You'll have to go high or to obscure places to find them. Ski and boot tracks and wind textured snow have rendered much of the well traveled areas rough and firm. Snow softened yesterday by late morning but only where the sun is most incident upon slopes.
Climbing conditions are decent, much like on a typical day in May or June. You don't get to claim a winter summit right now, though. Spring conditions are in full effect. Be prepared for rock and icefall.
See yesterday's observation for some good, above-treeline photos.
No recent signs of avalanches or instability have have been observed. The snowpack is well consolidated.
If you feel like you're stuck in a Groundhog Day time loop, you are not alone. High pressure will bring identical, predictable, spring-like days. But don't be tempted to plant your summer crops. We are in the middle of winter and signs are indicating that its traits may return. A large, low pressure swirl is slowing making its way east and its southern edge may bring a change in our weather pattern Sunday morning.
Today will be sunny and clear. Freezing levels will be near 10,000 ft. You will probably find N/NE strong to gale force winds near the top of Mount Shasta. At low to mid-elevations, winds will range from calm to moderate with occasional strong gusts.