Lawinenlagebericht

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Thu
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
2 · Mässig
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Kernpunkte

Wind slabs capable of burying a human will be likely to trigger today in the alpine. Evaluate the snowpack carefully in leeward terrain features near and above treeline. Recent slab avalanches and shooting cracks are all indicators of hazardous conditions. Wet loose avalanches remain a concern in areas of rain saturated snow and where the sun may hit new snow on solar aspects. Point releases, rollerballs, pinwheels are all indicators of instability. Conservative terrain choices are the best way to manage both hazards.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Yesterday's storm dropped a staggering 3.28 inches of snow water equivalent and about a foot of dense snow at the Old Ski Bowl, 7,600 feet. Higher elevations probably received two or more feet. Strong west winds yesterday and today will increase the likelihood of encountering large D2-D2.5 wind slabs above treeline on Mount Shasta. Near treeline, they are probably smaller in size and a bit less reactive, but snow conditions at that elevation have not yet been verified and caution is still advised.

    The problem will be confined to slopes greater than 35 degrees on the leeward side of ridges, rock outcrops, gullies, and rollovers. Areas directly beneath prominent ridgelines will hold the deepest drifts. Look for clues such as fresh cornices, wind lips and blowing snow to alert you to potential locations. Windward slopes and scoured terrain will offer the safest riding. Use small, inconsequential test slopes to assess for shooting cracks and reactivity before committing to avalanche terrain. 

    (2/22/2026)

    Skier triggered wind slab on small test slope on a northwest aspect at 7,400 feet 

    Photo: Eric Falconer

  • Loose Wet

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    There are a couple of different scenarios for wet loose today. First, if the sun comes out, steep slopes on the southern half of the compass that received at least a few inches of new snow, may lose cohesion. Second, the rain on snow event saturated many areas below the snow line around an estimated 7,200 feet. Since freezing levels only dropped to around 9,000 feet, snow surfaces should remain wet or superficially refrozen. With both cases, watch for natural or triggered signs of instability, such as rollerballs, pinwheels and point releases. 

    Very challenging to predict, there remains a low chance for wet slab avalanche today. Numerous buried weak layers and interfaces have been identified within and at the base of the February snowpack. These could serve as areas for water to pool and decrease the strength of the associated layer. While more prone to fail in the upper foot or so, a wet slab could fail up to a couple feet deep. The consequences of being caught are high given the large size. 

    Soggy surfaces and pinwheels, as shown here, are indicators of wet snow instabilities

    Photo: Hayden MacArthur

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