Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

More snow, rain, wind and warming temperatures are in the forecast with another atmospheric river (AR) event on tap late in the weekend. The recent one to two feet of heavy snow from the first round AR event has settled rapidly.  For now, the avalanche danger has largely subsided, but will remain dynamic over the weekend. Stay vigilant.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Yesterday the wind was light, but evidence of previous wind blowing snow is widespread. Thick, hollow wind slabs three to five feet deep have been observed. Steep couloirs, hanging snow fields and extreme terrain are where you'll most likely find and be able to trigger a wind slab. Said slabs have been stubborn/unreactive to trigger, but if you did trigger something, it could be a chunky one. Wind has blow predominantly out of the W/NW over the past 24 hours. During the AR event, winds blew out of the south/southwest.

Avalanche Discussion

We have almost 200 inches of snow on the ground near treeline on Mount Shasta. We should easily top that mark with this next AR event. The area has experienced a deep snowpack this season with below average temperatures and a lot of low density snow...powder of our dreams! That is changing as we transition from a cold winter snowpack to one that is now being loaded by heavy, wet snow and rain on snow. Uncertainty exists with how the snowpack will react to a large loading event, like the round 2 atmospheric river event on deck. Large loading events can have unpredictable outcomes. We've seen gigantic avalanches on Mount Shasta before, and one thing is for certain, they will happen again.

Road/Recreation Status:

  • Everitt Memorial Highway is CLOSED
  • Castle Lake road is CLOSED
  • Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • Deer Mountain Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • MS Ski Park/Nordic Center - OPEN

Regions covered