Quick report
Today was warm, sunny, and calm on the south side of Mount Shasta. An average of seven to eight inches of new snow has accumulated from yesterdays storm, but the wind has already had its impacts. Near and above treeline, ridges are scoured with sastrugi. Below treeline, soft snow could be found more easily. The warm temperatures allowed for sticky snow to develop below 7,500 feet. As for wind slab, small slabs could be found on south/southeast aspects near and above treeline, but nothing large enough nor reactive enough to present significant hazard.
Above treeline, soft snow could be seen blowing off of ridge tops oabove 11,000 feet.
Hollow wind slabs could be found near and above treeline on southerly aspects. Cracking was very hard to initiate.Weather
- Air Temp
- 32
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- N/A
- Recent Snowfall
- 20-25
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Sunny and warm. Though ambient air temperautre was close to freezing, the lack of wind and direct sunlight made it feel considerably warmer. Wind was light and unnoticeable. At upper elevations, lenticular clouds and blowing snow indicating stronger wind speeds.
Snowpack
At 8,000 feet, snow depth was over 340 cm (133 in) deep. Overall, seven to eight inches of new snow accumulated during yesterdays strom. In some areas, the west/northwest wind has formed wind slabs on south/southeast aspects. On an exposed slope, i found a 15 cm thick wind slab on top of loose dry snow. Upon compression test, the wind slab would fail on isolation.
Temperatures warmed the surface snow significantly below 7,500 feet. Snow became sticky and clumpy by 1 pm, sticking to skins and skis. Snow could become damp and less stable by midafternoon with slightly warmer temperatures. In very shaded aspects, surface snow is still dry and loose.
Soft snow could be seen blowing off of ridge tops above 11,000 feet on Mount Shasta.