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Day Two of the Storm

Location Name: 
Green Butte Ridge
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/09/2021 - 2:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 21' 36.0864" N, 122° 13' 51.2544" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

Well over a foot of snow had fallen at Bunny Flat yesterday afternoon since Monday's storm started. Blocky, slabby windrifts over 2 feet deep have formed along ridges. Cracks and blockiness in new snow indicate potentional wind slab and storm slab problems. The concerning weak layer residing within the snow that fell Saturday was not a concern at the elevations where column tests were conducted. Hard to no results were seen at two different, but similar locations. This weakness most probably exists at higher elevations where the crust that formed Sunday is thin and breakbable.

  • Observation Location: Green Butte Ridge
  • Elevation: 7,300 ft
  • Date: 20210309
  • Time: 1400
  • Observer: Aaron Beverly
  • Sky Conditions: Obscured (X)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S2
  • Air Temperature: 20 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 5 in (13 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 75 in (190 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 7 in
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0.64 in
  • Wind Direction: SW
  • Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr
  • Column & Block Tests:
    • Slope Angle & Aspect (25°, SE)
    • CTN

Photos

  • New snowpack configuration on windward slope. CTN results.
  • Wind drifts up over 2 ft in places. Hand tests indicate easy failures within new snow.
  • Wind loading since Monday has occurred.
  • Blockiness within new snow
  • Ski penetration

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
Snow
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Speed: 
Light
Wind Direction: 
Southwest