Wind Drifts on Green Butte - Mount Shasta

With 4 inches of new snow at 7,000 feet and active winds, I wanted to observe wind slab development at the upper elevations. Near treeline on a southeast aspect I experienced wind transporting new snow onto southerly slopes with fresh drifts developing up to one foot thick on the leeward sides of roll-overs and ridgelines. These drifts were touchy under my weight with shooting cracks reaching lengths up to five feet long. The drifts top 3 - 5 cm of snow were four-finger hardness with less dense snow below. Underneath the new snow was a slippery crust making it easy for fresh snow and drifts to slide. Winds from the northwest blew at moderate speeds with strong gusts near treeline. Visibility was poor, limiting observations to near and below treeline. Temperatures remained below freezing with a stout wind chill.

• Observation Location: Old Ski Bowl 
• Elevation: 7,800 feet 
• Date: 2023.02.14
• Time: 1200
• Observer: E. Falconer
• Sky Conditions:  Overcast (OVC) | Obscured (X)
• Current Precipitation: Type -  SN - S1 | S2 
• Air Temperature: 13 °F
• Surface Penetration: Ski penetration (PS) = 4 in (9 cm), boot penetration (PF) = 10 in (25 cm)
• Total Snow Depth (HS): 128 in (325 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 4 in (10 cm)
• 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 0
• Wind Direction: NW
• Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway | Strong (S), 26-38 mi/hr, whole trees in motion