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Conditions Update Below, Near & Above Treeline

Location Name: 
Old Ski Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/26/2020 - 11:30am
Observation made by: 
Forecaster

Location Map

96067 CA
United States
41° 23' 3.8976" N, 122° 12' 21.8808" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

Observations on Old Ski Bowl:

  • TIME: 20200126 - 1000 - 1400
  • ASPECT: South
  • ELEVATION: 10,000 ft
  • SKY: Broken - Various cloud layers moved in and out mostly below 6,000 feet around the forecast area. Generally, clear skies were observed on Mount Shasta.  
  • PRECIPITATION: NO
  • BLOWING SNOW: Yes - Strong westerly, though little local accumulation was observed.
  • TEMPERATURE: 34° 
  • BOOT PENETRATION: Below treeline: 65 cm (26 in), Near treeline:  55 cm (22 in) Above treeline: 10 cm (4 in) 
  • HEIGHT OF SNOW (HS): 230 cm (91 in)
  • WIND: Below treeline:  Light SW; Near treeline:  Light W with Moderate gusts; Above treeline: Moderate W with strong gusts
  • COLUMN & BLOCK TESTS:
    • CT14 ↓ 15 cm BRK Q2
    • CT13 ↓ 15 cm BRK Q2

We traveled up Old Ski Bowl to monitor wind slab development and gather information about the recent storm.  Wind slabs have formed above 9,000 ft, but they are shalllow and unreactive. Column tests have indicated moderate failures within the upper layers but are not notable. No propagation was seen.

Photos

  • Wind slab atop thick crust, CT14 BRK failures here high on ridgetops.

Videos

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Wind Direction: 
West