You are here

Location Name: 
Green Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
wcc
loading

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

This morning, Nick, Hayden, and I chose to ascend Green Butte ridge to assess snow and wind trends of the current storm. Overall, the observed new snow coverage greatly varied based on aspect and terrain features. 

  • Below treeline, snow surface conditions were wind effected as low as Bunny Flat parking lot. There was 2–3 inches of new snow in wind sheltered areas. Under the new snow is a TON of branches, limbs, leaves and other blown material from all the recent wind.
  • Near treeline, leeward (northerly) aspect nolls and slopes had wind transported snow of up to 12 inches. Southerly facing slopes had an inch to a trace of new snow on top of very hard melt freeze old snow.
  • Above treeline, moderate cornice growth, cracking off of skis, and increased wind were all signs of rising instability, particularly on northerly facing terrain.
  • Visibility was poor above treeline, primarily due to blowing snow.
  • Snowfall and visibility lightened on the way down. It appears this storm is short-lived, likely on its way out. 

Observation Location: Green Butte Ridge

  • Elevation: 8,200 feet
  • Date: 20230203
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Obscured (X)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S-1
  • Air Temperature: 21 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 3 in (7 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 127 in (323 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 2.3 in (6 cm)
  • Wind Direction: SW
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Mt. Eddy
Region: 
Mt Eddy
Date and time of observation: 
12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
loading

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Observations from the Eddy Mountains today:

  • Snow was encountered at around 5,000 feet, about 3.5 miles up the 17 Road
  • Overall, snow surface conditions are poor. Most aspects and elevations contained a solid sun and wind crust with wind effected snow surfaces
  • New small and shallow wind slabs were observed on leeward slopes from the recent northerly wind. Large, older wind drifts can be found as well. Both were unreactive to trigger
  • Blowing snow was light. Snow available for wind transport is minimal
  • Upper and lower Deadfall Lakes are frozen over and solid
  • A few old avalanches were observed: one on an easterly facing slope near treeline (Sweetwater slide path). A few bent over trees were visible in the slide path run out zone. The second, an old crown line, was also observed on a steep northwest facing slope above treeline at the top of the Bear Creek drainage (top of Sisson Calahan Trail)
  • Sugary snow (near surface facets) just below the wind/sun crust was observed in some areas below and near treeline
  • A ski party in the area found soft, recycled powder on northerly, protected aspects

    _______________________________________
  • Observation Location: Mount Eddy
  • Elevation: 8,000 feet
  • Date: 20230127
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Scattered (SCT)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 34 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 103 in (261 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: N
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
avy
warming

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Eric and I returned today to Bunny Flat and Old Ski Bowl to continue assessing snow surface conditions. We approached via the 31 road and the power lines. Snow quality is rapidly deteriorating on all southerly aspects of Mt Shasta. The 31 road is beginning to develop long sections of bare dirt. The power line route up to Bunny Flat and Old Ski Bowl is heavily tracked out, leaving tough riding conditions. I suspect these riding conditions will not improve until more snow arrives. In the morning, the snow surface was firm with a sun crust on all terrain below, near, and above treeline. In the afternoon, snow became soft and wet, beginning to clump up. 

The northwest face of Gray Butte, was in similar poor condition. The surface appeared firm and wind effected, with faint rain runnels running the entire slope.

No signs of snowpack instability were observed today. Although, with the continued warm weather and increasing saturation of the upper snowpack, I suspect wet instability will rise.

In other news, it appeared that the blower on Everitt Memorial Highway was getting closer to Bunny Flat, yay!

  • Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl and Gray Butte area
  • Elevation: 7,500 feet
  • Date: 20230124
  • Time: 1300
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and E. Falconer
  • Sky Conditions: Clear (CLR)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 37 °F
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: S
  • Wind Speed: Calm (C), 0 mi/hr | Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
2:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Today's itinerary was to assess terrain above treeline in the Old Ski Bowl and to complete some maintenance at Bunny Flat. We approached from the power lines route, where we found signs of heavy sled traffic and a very beaten path. The riding conditions were firm and tracked, with a surface sun crust down low. We noted a slight temperature inversion compared to town as we continued up the mountain. Large lenticular clouds could be seen occluding the summit of Mt Shasta for the entirety of the day.

The most significant observation today was just how strong the winds were. Winds were in the extreme category (>38 mph) the whole day above treeline. Wind transport was easily seen on all northerly aspects on Shasta and the surrounding mountains.  Above treeline, virtually all surface conditions were extremely wind effected, with widespread sastrugi features covering even the most sheltered areas. Riding became very difficult with winds nearly toppling the sleds, we turned around at about 8,000 feet. Broken trees and branches were found all across the slopes below treeline. An avalanche was found in Sun Bowl (south aspect, R2D1) that likely occurred within the last 24 hours. It appeared as a shallow wind slab. Another crown was spotted along Casaval Ridge at a similar aspect and elevation. 

  • Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl, Mt Shasta
  • Elevation: 8,000 feet
  • Date: 20230122
  • Time: 1400
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and E. Falconer
  • Sky Conditions: Few (FEW)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 40 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = [?] in ([?] cm), boot penetration (PF) = [?] in ([?] cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): [?] in ([?] cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 0 in (0 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0 in (0 cm)
  • Wind Direction: N
  • Wind Speed: Extreme (X), > 38 mi/hr, gale force

Weather Observations

Statistics

Pages