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Conditions Around the Area

Location Name: 
Eddies, Old Ski Bowl, Sun Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/16/2021 - 1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Winds were mostly calm yesterday below 10,000 ft on Mount Shasta. Snow was blowing over the Red Banks in the morning. Many sastrugis covered the snow surface above treeline, though places like Sun Bowl were smooth. Wind effects were found in areas exposed to north winds. The higher you got, the less low density snow was available. Snow was softening and by the end of the day, it was beginning to crust. In places, small wind slabs were encountered. They were hard and well bonded to the snow beneath. There are plenty of exposed rocks above treeline, particularly above 9,000 ft.

Things were deeper in the Eddies but similar conditions were encountered - calm winds, warming snow, and crusts by the end of the day. No new avalanches were seen or triggered. Loose wet avalanches seemed possible.

About an inch of surface hoar was seen in the morning at Bunny Flat. It was gone by the end of the day, but shady and north facing aspects could still hold it.

See photos below.

Photos

  • Yellow Butte - north winds created sastrugis
  • Green Butte - rocks become more exposed the higher you get
  • Broadway Ridge near Sun Bowl
  • Smooth snow in Sun Bowl
  • Breakable crust over low density snow - potential weak layer
  • Hard wind crust above 9,000 ft
  • Deep in the Eddies, potential for wet loose
  • Thanks to Gazelle elementary for joining us for some snow science

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
No
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Wind Direction: