Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Extremely deep, low density snow, cold temperatures and strong easterly wind are all contributing to high avalanche danger today. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. An avalanche warning has been extended for 24 hours.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Over the past 24 hours, wind has blow out of the east, averaging 30 mi/hr with gusts to 67 mi/hr. Slabs of cohesive, wind-blown snow are certain. Drifts six to eight feet deep have been observed. Slabs are resting on hard, firm surfaces with a weak layer of buried graupel near the bottom. Wind slab avalanches today have the potential to be very large, destructive and could easily kill you. Stay off of and out from underneath avalanche terrain today. 

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Three to four feet of snow fell overnight on February 23rd and 24th. Ten more inches fell yesterday morning during the AM hours. Significant settlement has already occurred, but cold temperatures will slow the bonding process of this storm and instability could linger longer than normal. To add complexity, weak layers of graupel may exist in some areas. Unstable storm slabs could occur on any aspect near and below treeline. 

Avalanche Discussion

Road/Recreation Status:

  • Everitt Memorial Highway is CLOSED. The gate is closed this morning. 
  • Castle Lake road is CLOSED
  • Mt Shasta Ski Park - OPEN. Coyote on wind hold this morning.

Regions covered