Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Small human-triggered avalanches are possible in wind-drifted areas in the alpine. Consider the consequences of even a small avalanche before committing to extreme terrain. Watch for wet surface instabilities on steep sunny slopes. Be prepared to change your route or objective if you see signs of instability.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Four to six inches of snow on February 10th to 11th, combined with easterly winds, formed small wind slabs on leeward aspects near and above treeline on Mount Shasta. Yesterday, wind-drifted areas near treeline produced limited signs of instability, suggesting this problem has mostly healed at lower elevations. However, uncertainty is greater in the alpine, and plenty of dry snow remains available for transport. Today, a wind shift to the west could form new slabs in areas that were previously scoured if wind speeds are strong enough. 

    Stay alert for signs of unstable snow in steep (>35 degrees), wind-loaded terrain on all aspects above treeline, especially below ridgelines, around rock outcroppings, and in gully features. Cracking under your skis or sled is a clear sign of instability. Look for clues such as wind pillows and blowing snow to alert you to potential wind slab locations. As always, even small avalanches can have big consequences in extreme terrain. 

     

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Snow surfaces on steep, sunny aspects may become wet under sunny skies this morning before high clouds move in this afternoon. While wet loose avalanches are unlikely due to widespread melt-freeze crusts and the limited timeframe of solar input, it’s still a problem worth paying attention to today—especially in extreme terrain. If you observe signs that the snow surface is losing cohesion, such as fresh rollerballs, move to mellower or shadier slopes. 

    (2/11/2026)

    Rollerballs on a steep, southeast aspect below Bunny Flat at 130pm

    Photo: Hayden MacArthur

Avalanche Discussion

Since February 8th, the Old Ski Bowl has received about 7 inches of snow (.91" SWE) - the beginning of a welcome pattern change after a month of mostly dry weather. The snowpack has benefitted from the modest refresh, but surface conditions remain variable with crusts, soft snow, and wind-affected snow predominating. Mount Shasta holds the deepest snowpack with over five feet near treeline. On the west side of the forecast area, winter recreation is limited to only a few slopes (see this recent video). Faceted layers in the snowpack have been observed on protected aspects on the north half of the compass near treeline (see recent observations). Forecasters will continue to track these layers as additional loading events move into the area this weekend.

Regions covered