Gray Butte - Afternoon

Observations from the northwest face of Gray Butte from 2pm to 4pm

Weather trends:

• Cloud level was around 6,500 feet. 
• In the parking lot of the ski park, sky cover was around 75%, temperatures were above freezing, and surface snow was dense and saturated.
• At the top of Gray Butte, the sky was 100% obscured, temperatures remained cold, with light winds out of the northwest, and the snow remained cold and dry.
• Light snowfall continued throughout the outing, which turned to graupel near the end of the day.

Snowpack observations:

• Near the summit of Gray Butte, there was around five to six inches of new snow. Above 7,000 feet, the new snow appeared cold and dry, and relatively low density. Below 7,000 feet, a surface crust formed from saturation of the upper couple inches of snow.
• Near treeline, there was some minor surface wind texture across exposed slopes and ridges, however, wind transport was not observed.
• Upon shovel shear tests, weak layers were identified at the new snow old snow interface (5-6 inches down) and at a slightly deeper saturated snow layer (10 inches down). 
• No avalanches or slab characteristics were observed today, however, ski cuts did cause some dry loose sloughing. 

• Observation Location: Northwest face of Gray Butte
• Elevation: 7,700 feet
• Date: 20230323
• Time: 1500
• Observer: S. Clairmont
• Sky Conditions: Obscured (X)
• Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S-1
• Air Temperature: 24 °F
• Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 5 in (12 cm)
• Total Snow Depth (HS): 6 in (15 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): [?] in ([?] cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): [?] in ([?] cm)
• Wind Direction: NW
• Wind Speed: Light (L), 1-16 mi/hr, twigs in motion