Red Flags Flying High on Gray Butte

Today was one of those days you can feel the tension in the snowpack. Red flags of avalanche danger were widespread. Storm slabs and wind slabs could be easily ski cut and/or stomped off small, steep test slopes. Southeast wind was actively loading W-NW-N facing slopes. Shooting cracks and blocking in the new snow was frequent. Long cracks 20 feet away would propagate across the fresh snow. New snow accumulation rates were about one inch an hour with about 1.5 feet of fresh storm snow. A pit dug on a west facing aspect at 8,000 feet gave way to unstable stability tests, easily failing and propagating just below a thin crust 45 cm / 17 in from the surface of the snowpack. Other storm layers produced failures as well. Red flags of avalanche danger were in your face. Near whiteout conditions made for very poor visibility. I stayed completely off of and clear of any avalanche terrain, but all the signs of danger were there. Triggering an avalanche in steep terrain was certain.

• Observation Location: Gray Butte via Mt Shasta Ski Park
• Elevation: 6,500 to 8,100 feet
• Date: 20230107
• Time: 1300
• Observer: Meyers
• Sky Conditions: Obscured (X)
• Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S2
• Air Temperature: 24 °F
• Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 6-8 in,  boot penetration (PF) = 2 ft 
• Total Snow Depth (HS): 98 in (250 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 17 in (45 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 1.51 in 
• Wind Direction: SE 
• 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 25º, W 
  • ECTP5 ↓ [17] in (45 cm)