Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist at the upper elevations. Strong north and west winds will continue to drift snow onto leeward W-SW-S-SE-E aspects. New snow will fall on slick bed surfaces creating sensitive conditions. Riders should steer around wind-exposed terrain steeper than 30 degrees and look for clues of instabilities such as shooting cracks, whumpfing noises, and recent avalanche activity. Blowing snow over ridgelines, down gullies, and through trees indicates that wind loading may be happening in many locations and elevations.    

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New wind slabs will continue to form over the next 24 hours increasing in size and sensitivity. Steep areas that harbor a foot or more of drifted snow are the most likely areas to initiate a slide. A layer of graupel was the first to be deposited on slopes yesterday and could act as a weak layer as it gets buried. Graupel is variable as it usually doesn’t exist uniformly over a widespread area and moves with gravity collecting in gullies and concavities within the terrain. Dig down and look for rounded snow grains beneath the new snow to identify areas where graupel may be lurking. 

    (2/21/2023)

    Round grains of graupel 5 mm in size and amounting to 2- 3 cm were widely deposited on slopes yesterday 2023.01.21 

    Photo: E.Falconer

Avalanche Discussion

A fast and furious transition back to winter is underway. In the coming days, it will be important to slow down and keep your head on a swivel when traveling in the mountains to better inform yourself of changing conditions and your surroundings. Cold temperatures and negative wind chill values are in place and will increase the risk of could injuries. Being properly prepared and equipped for whatever the weather or conditions may throw at you is all part of safe backcountry travel.   

If you observe signs of avalanches or noteworthy findings, we'd love to hear from you. You can submit an observation on our website, and even a small amount of information can go a long way.   

Remember: when the snowpack is the problem, the terrain is the solution. Always!     

Castle Lake road is still closed at the gate.

Regions covered