Submitted by nmeyers on Sat, 03/18/2023 - 5:43am
Recent Observations:
Few notables from yesterday in the avalanche department. We ventured up to the Castle Lake weather station for a successful repair of the snow depth sensor cable. The weather station was nearly buried with ~175 inches on the ground. Unfortunately, snow creep ripped the temperature sensor cable out of the unit, so net even for our efforts, and we'll be back up there soon for more repairs. When does it end!?
The snowpack is bomber, and rain runnels dominate all terrain below ~6,500 feet. In addition, thick trap crust and hot powder was encountered. A thin layer of surface hoard has formed on snow surfaces in some areas. With the incoming storm, this could be the next weak layer for slabs. Overall, it was a gorgeous day with calm wind, mild temps and clear, blue sky. A few small, greasy wet loose slides could be initiated on steep, warm, sunny slopes, but we didn't observe anything large enough to pose a threat to human life. Along the ridge of Middle Peak, truck size cornices peppered the skyline. It's not a matter of if, but when these behemoths will fail. Snow totals across the forecast area: Mount Shasta - 191 inches / Castle Lake - 175 inches / Mount Eddy - 152 inches / Ash Creek Butte - 174 inches
Clockwise from top left: Castle Lake cirque, Middle Peak. huge cornices and old avalanche debris/ Lower flanks of Right Peak, widespread rain runnels dominate the landscape / Thick, breakable "trap crust" in many areas with a thin layer of surface hoar on top / The Castle Lake weather station before we dug it out and repaired the snow depth sensor. [Photos: Meyers]
Mountain Weather:
Unsettled weather is on the horizon. The next storm systems from the Pacific is forecast to bring a new round of locally heavy rain and snow into central and northern California and southwest Oregon early on Sunday. Dry weather will continue today. Expect southerly wind and clouds to increase this afternoon as an upper level trough moves into the area later tonight. Precipitation will spread over most of the area Sunday into Monday. Snow levels will be near 5,000 feet.
Today 7-8 Weather :
Sunny this morning, then becoming mostly cloudy
Today 7-8 Wind Direction:
SE
Today 8-9 Weather:
Increasing clouds and wind, breezy
Today 8-9 Wind Direction:
SW
Tomorrow 7-8 Weather:
Windy, snow in the morning, then rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow level near 4,900 feet
Tomorrow 7-8 Wind Direction:
S
Tomorrow 8-9 Weather:
Snow, windy
Tomorrow 8-9 Wind Direction:
S
Tonight 7-8 Weather:
Windy, mostly cloudy, 50 percent chance of rain and snow after midnight. Snow level near 5,700 feet
Tonight 7-8 Wind Direction:
S
Tonight 8-9 Weather:
A 50 percent chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, windy
Tonight 8-9 Wind Direction:
S
20
13
47
28
150
0
0
24
19
40.5
29
191.9
0
0.42
Grey Butte Temp Cur:
26.5
Grey Butte Wind Gust Max:
24.54
Castle Lake Snow Depth:
171.1
Mount Eddy Temp Max:
39.5
Mount Eddy Wind Gust Max:
5.06
Mount Eddy Snow Depth:
152.9
Ash Creek Bowl Temp Cur:
28
Ash Creek Bowl Temp Min:
15.5
Ash Creek Bowl Temp Max:
36.5
Ash Creek Bowl Temp Avg:
27.5
Ash Creek Bowl Snow New:
0
Ash Creek Ridge Temp Cur:
22
Ash Creek Ridge Temp Min:
18.5
Ash Creek Ridge Temp Max:
33
Ash Creek Ridge Temp Avg:
25.5
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Cur:
19
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Max:
19
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Gust Max:
26.51
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Avg:
E
Mt. Shasta City Temp Cur:
27
Mt. Shasta City Temp Min:
24
Mt. Shasta City Temp Max:
54
Mt. Shasta City Temp Avg:
38
Mt. Shasta City Wind Cur:
3
Mt. Shasta City Wind Min:
0
Mt. Shasta City Wind Max:
3
Mt. Shasta City Wind Avg:
0.5
Mt. Shasta City Wind Avg:
N
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Min:
1.5
Ash Creek Ridge Wind Avg:
7.5
Sand Flat Snow Settlement:
3
Ski Bowl Snow Settlement:
2.8
Castle Lake Snow Settlement:
1.4
Mount Eddy Snow Settlement:
3.2
Ash Creek Bowl Snow Settlement:
0
Measured Precipitation Oct:
36.5
Normal Precipitation Oct:
28.34
Percent Precipitation Oct:
129
Measured Precipitation MTD:
6.79
Normal Precipitation MTD:
3.4
Percent Precipitation MTD:
200
Measured Precipitation YTD:
27.37
Normal Precipitation YTD:
16.1
Percent Precipitation YTD:
170
Tomorrow Wind Max 7-9:
25
Tomorrow Wind Min 7-9:
15
Tonight Wind Max 9-11:
45
Tomorrow Wind Max 9-11:
55
Tonight Wind Min 9-11:
35
Tomorrow Wind Min 9-11:
45
Tonight Snow Max 7-9:
5.00
Tomorrow Snow Max 7-9:
12.00
Tonight Snow Min 7-9:
3.00
Tomorrow Snow Min 7-9:
8.00
Today Snow Max 9-11:
0.00
Tonight Snow Max 9-11:
9.00
Tomorrow Snow Max 9-11:
20.00
Today Snow Min 9-11:
0.00
Tonight Snow Min 9-11:
5.00
Tomorrow Snow Min 9-11:
14.00
Weather Station Discussion:
The table below summarizes data reported from all of our weather stations over the last 24 hours.
Seasonal Stats Discussion:
The wet season is October 1 through May 1. The table below summarizes recorded vs. normal precipitation amounts for the City of Mount Shasta.
Overall Danger Rating:
Low
