Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Assess pockets of drifted snow on leeward aspects above treeline before committing to steeper wind loaded terrain. Wind slabs will grow through the day as snow accumulates but should remain small. Watch for blowing snow and seek gentler slopes if you experience shooting cracks underfoot on smaller test slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Last night, the Old Ski Bowl weather station picked up 0.2 inches of SWE with little to no snow accumulation measured at that elevation, 7,600 feet. Upper elevations on Mount Shasta may have received around an inch of snow, enough to form small wind slabs combined with moderate east to southeast winds overnight. Slabs should continue grow and form through the day as 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected. Winds look to shift to a more southerly orientation.  Areas near treeline may come more into play if snow accumulates there.

    New drifts will be confined to leeward aspects below ridges, rock outcrops, in gullies and beneath rollovers. They will be most sensitive above treeline in terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Assess drifts for sensitivity and manage them through conservative travel or avoidance. Small avalanches in extreme terrain can have still have serious consequences.

    Small wind slabs formed under northwest winds on February 9th are probably trending stubborn to trigger and may also be eroding due to the reversal in wind direction. However, they are still worth assessing for reactivity. 

    (2/9/2026)

    A reactive ~ 6 inch wind slab on a leeward aspect near treeline

    Photo: Eric Falconer

Avalanche Discussion

Surfaces above and near treeline on Mount Shasta are a patchwork of firm scoured terrain and drifted snow. High humidity on February 8th contributed to crust development on surfaces that previously had little to none, which added some strength to areas of faceted snow on the surface. This crust may not be universally present across the zone due to localized differences in weather. Forecasters will continue monitoring areas of weak snow as conditions change and larger storms approach.

Looking ahead, significantly more precipitation is anticipated over the weekend into next week. Be prepared for more dynamic avalanche conditions in the days to come. Areas below treeline, particularly in the west half of the forecast area harbor very shallow snow depths and patchy coverage, which includes Castle Lake. With lower snow levels in the future, it's worth noting buried obstacles will become more of a hazard beneath the new snow. 

Regions covered