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Casaval Ridge, Mount Shasta

Location Name: 
Lower Casaval Ridge (Giddy Giddy, Gulch), Mount Shasta
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Sat, 03/21/2020 - 1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 23' 4.974" N, 122° 13' 16.7268" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

March 21, 2020 (20200321) -  Lower Casaval Ridge, Mount Shasta -Ryan Sorenson
TIME: 1100- 1500
SKY: Overcast 
PRECIP: Sporadic light snowfall, S-1 with periods of S1. 
WIND: Calm to light north-easterly winds above treeline with periods of moderate easterly winds during brief snowstorms.
BLOWING SNOW: Yes, light, loading westerly terrain. 
HS: 66 inches (170 centimeters) average at Horse Camp (7,600 feet)
SURFACE PENETRABILITY: Ski 0-2 inches, Boot 4-14 inches
NOTES:
Snow squalls were more productive than expected today. Between 1130 and 1400 hours, occasional snowfall accumulated approximately an inch of fresh snow over a variable snowpack.  It was possible to find a turn or two in light powdery snow if you searched for it. However, the majority of the snowpack on the south side of Mount Shasta hosts a variety of melt-freeze crusts, some supportable some not.  South and east-facing aspects held the most supportable crusts. 

Photos

  • 66 inches (170 centimeters) average snow depth at Horse Camp
  • Bunny Flat trailhead
  • Snow surfaces near treeline in Giddy Giddy Gulch
  • View of Avalanche Gulch from Casaval Ridge
  • Casaval Ridge
  • Snow surfaces above treeline in Giddy Giddy Gulch

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
Snow
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
East