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Powder Bowl - Mount Shasta

Location Name: 
Powder Bowl
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Location Map

96067 Mount Shasta , CA
United States
41° 22' 14.7684" N, 122° 12' 49.6116" W
California US

Snowpack Observations

Details

Today's goal was to assess the wind slab situation near and above treeline. I did not find any due to the rough wind-effected state of the snowpack, and I observed no other signs of instabilities. 

The main takeaways are listed below.

  • Below treeline wind was calm
  • Near and above treeline wind was moderate to strong with blowing snow
  • Below treeline soft snow exists in protected shady areas
  • Snow surfaces that have recently seen sun are developing a melt freeze crust
  • Upper elevations host a variety of wind effected surfaces including, wind buff, ice glaze, wind brick and sastrugi
  • In steep terrain with firm and slick surfaces, a slip and fall would be consequential. Ice axe and crampons are a must.
  • The upper mountain remained capped in clouds

                                                                             

  • Observation Location: Powder Bowl
  • Elevation: 8,000 feet 
  • Date: 2023.02.07
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: E. Falconer 
  • Sky Conditions:  Overcast (OVC)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO 
  • Air Temperature: 34 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 2 in (3.5 cm), boot penetration (PF) = 7 in (10 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 39 in (97 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): NO
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): NO
  • Wind Direction: NW
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway | Strong (S), 26-38 mi/hr, whole trees in motion 
  • Column & Block Tests:
    • Slope Angle & Aspect ([25]º, SW
    • ECTX

Photos

  • wind textured surfaces found above treeline on a southwest slope
  • snow condition on Green Butte ridge. 5 cm ski penetration
  • Green Butte ridge
  • Casaval and the upper mountain
  • looking down into powder bowl
  • blowing snow from a northwest wind
  • ice glaze and wind effected snow
  • this is a common surface above treeline
  • snowpack structure near treeline
  • wind packed snow above softer snow. A common theme near and below treeline

Weather Observations

Statistics

Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Wind Direction: 
Northwest