Avalanche Advisory for Monday, December 24, 2007 at 7:00am

 By Santa's Elf Matt Hill

 

 The Details:

 This Season: We had a few early season hints of snow in October, then
 a dry spell with December starting to show signs of winter. Our
 precipitation is around 94% of normal. We currently have around 3
 feet of recent snow on a thin old snow surface. We are in a "La Nina"
 climate condition which often means wetter than normal winters in our
 area and expectations are above normal precipitation into the spring
 of 2008.


 Weather Observations: T'was the day before Christmas and all through
 the land, we have snow showers and cooling temperatures with a waving
 of Santa's hand. Mt. Shasta - We have 35 inches of snow on the
 ground near tree line with only a trace of new snow over the last 24
 hours. The snow settled 3 inches in the last 24 hours and
 temperatures have ranged between 30F and a balmy 41F at 7000 ft. and
 it is currently 30F. Winds this morning at tree line were estimated
 at around 35-50 mph from the WNW, and up to 20 mph from the NW below
 tree line. On the upper mountain winds are estimated this morning at
 50 mph from the NW. Castle/Mt. Eddy - Mt. Eddy received only a trace
 of new snow in the last 12 hours with 1 inch of settlement.

 Temperatures warmed from 25F to 44F over the last 24 hours. We
 estimate around 2 ft. of snow on the ground with brush showing.

 Castle Lake is around 32F this morning.



 Weather Forecast: A cold front is moving east of our area right now,
 with a cool Northwest wind from Santa's North Pole cooling us down.

 Look's like we could see some snow showers for the first part of the
 day, with only a few inches expected then a break later today? The
 wet weather will continue to dominate our weather through the week, as
 a series of systems are lined up off the coast let's take a peek.

 Santa will be bringing some gifts from the North, his sleigh is full
 of snow from the North. The roofs will be clatter'n on Christmas Day,
 with some snow showers starting later in the day. The storms will move
 in and will be get'n with it later this week, with possibly another 2
 feet by the end of this week. For today we can expect strong winds as
 the jet stream is upon us, so hold on to your hats if you try and find
 pocohantas. Winds will continue to be from the WNW, around 30-50 mph
 above treeline, maybe even above this.



 Snow Pack: Santa's helpers continued to find some wet cascade chowder
 in stashes yesterday. The warm temperatures continued yesterday and
 then cooled helping to lockup the snowpack. This weather transition
 has really done a good job to stabilize the snowpack. However, with
 warming and then the abrupt cooling we will be presented with some
 thin crusts with a bit of a dusting. Concerns remain mostly at higher
 elevations for sensitive shallow wind slabs building on the E and S
 aspects due to any available snow being transported by the strong NW
 winds.


 Photo of a Rutschblock test result on Mt. Shasta 12/21/07

 Stability tests on Friday found moderate instability near tree line in
 the top layer of new snow.

 
 Some important thoughts: This advisory does not apply to Ski Areas or
 Highways and is for the Mt. Shasta, Castle Lake and Mt. Eddy back
 country. Use this information for guidance only. You may find
 different conditions in the backcountry and should travel
 accordingly. This advisory expires at midnight tonight. As always,
 use safe travel practices: travel with a partner, travel one at a
 time in suspect areas, go from one island of safety to another, choose
 safe routes, wear a transceiver, carry a shovel and probe, and know
 how to use your gear!