Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche danger is considerable at all elevations and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Today is all about terrain management. If traveling on or near a slope steeper than 30 degrees, execute extreme caution through careful snowpack evaluation and conservative travel techniques. Wind slabs remain a real threat on leeward aspects and will continue to grow in size and sensitivity today. Storm slabs exist on all aspects and elevations and will be most reactive on steep convex terrain features. Clearly identifying and managing all terrain traps will be a paramount tool for a safe and successful day in the backcountry.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Active west and southwest winds will continue to transport snow and stress the snowpack. An increased risk of triggering a wind slab exists on all northerly and due-east aspects at all elevations. This problem is confined to wind-exposed areas like gully walls, steep chutes, and cliffs bands below treeline. Near and above treeline, riders should remain suspicious of all leeward convex slopes below ridgelines, large basins, and pockets of terrain that have recently experienced wind-loading.

    (3/7/2023)

    Wind pillows across Castle Lake. Also, representative of wind exposed slopes near and above treeline 

    Photo: E.Falconer

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Storm slabs will want to slide easily today, so it's your job to be on the lookout for badly behaving snow and know what spots to avoid in the terrain. Storm slabs could release a foot or more deep, especially in areas like gullies and depressions where more snow has drifted. Using inconsequential test slopes to assess the snow is a great way to get a feel for how sensitive this problem is, or is becoming.  

    (3/7/2023)

    Large shooting crack on convex test slope below treeline.

    Photo: E.Falconer

Avalanche Discussion

There is some uncertainty regarding the forecast. Variability exists between the westerly mountains and Mount Shasta regarding snow totals and near and above treeline observations. Snow can fall and behave totally differently in these separate zones and we encourage folks to exercise caution and bear in mind these potential differences.      

Please, if you see any avalanche activity or interesting findings, we'd love to hear about them. You can send any observations to our website site Mount Shasta Avalanche Center big blue (submit avalanche Observation) button, or email us at [email protected]. A little goes a long way! 

 Remember...

"Today's snow surface may be tomorrow's weak layer."

"When snow is the problem, terrain is the solution."

Road/Recreation Status:

  • Everitt Memorial Highway is CLOSED
  • Castle Lake road is CLOSED
  • Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • Deer Mountain Snowmobile Park - OPEN

Regions covered