Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Unsettled weather will continue for northern California. Fluctuating temperatures, precipitation and wind speeds can make storm snow layering interesting. Unstable snow may exist in steep avalanche terrain. It will be up to you to look for signs of instability today. New snow and wind are good ingredients for slab avalanches. Watch out for signs of unstable snow like recent avalanches, blowing snow and cracking snow. Move to lower angle terrain if there is any doubt about the snow stability.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Observations have been limited from upper elevation, windy terrain, but the data doesn't lie: westerly wind has been predominate, and paired with ample amounts of new snow. Today, it will be windy over higher terrain. Expect wind blowing snow onto those leeward aspects on the right half of the compass. Wind slabs are most reactive during or just after a storm. Ease into terrain by checking wind loading on lower angle, small test slopes. As drifts becoming deeper and slopes larger, resulting avalanches can become much more serious. Monitor the depth of wind slabs and look for signs of unstable snow such as cracking in the slab or recent avalanches.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Fluctuations in temperature, wind and precipitation can create density changes and weak layers in the snowpack. Warming temperatures over the past 24 hours will make for heavy snow on top of light snow, the classic upside down cake effect. While most of the bonding in the upper snowpack is expected to improve, storm slabs could still be possible in steep, unsupported terrain. Wet snow instabilities will begin to occur as temperatures increase and rain begins to fall on new snow.

    Look for signs of instability while traveling in the backcountry.  Recent avalanche activity, shooting cracks, collapsing, and rapid warming.  If you see signs of instability, move away from avalanche terrain into less steep and easier to manage terrain.

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