Mount Shasta

We will see strong winds and a rain/snow mix by this afternoon from the first of two weather systems. Cold, wet, and windy conditions will dominate. Avalanche danger is LOW but this will likely change in a big way tomorrow and Wednesday. Travelers who venture above treeline can expect strong gusts, low visibility, and a single-digit windchill.

The current snowpack is strong and stable with rounded grains throughout. The upper snowpack is wet and heavy with the near and above treeline zones having variable crusts. The freezing level is expected to remain high but drop from ~9,000-feet to ~5,000-feet by Tuesday night. This means the upper snowpack should remain wet and sticky allowing new snow to bond well to the existing snowpack. However, if the forecasted "heavy, but short lived precipitation" rings true, we can expect avalanche danger to rapidly increase Tuesday and Wednesday.

Does the new snow having you thinking about avalanche safety? Come join us at Deadwood Supply Co. in Mt. Shasta City on January 7th, 2023 at 7:00pm for a FREE Avalanche Awareness Course! This will be followed by a FREE Companion Rescue Course at 9am the next morning at Bunny Flat Trailhead. These are the perfect opportunities to brush up on winter safety skills, interact with avalanche forecasters, and get your questions answered! More information can be found on the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center Events Page.