Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Highlights

New snow and southeasterly winds have built fresh wind slabs on Mount Shasta. Expect small pockets of wind‑drifted snow that may be reactive to human triggers, especially in steep, extreme terrain over 35 degrees. Winds will shift to northwesterly today. Mount Shasta is no stranger to wind, so stay alert for blowing snow and watch where it’s being deposited. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    On February 10-11, four to six inches of snow fell on Mount Shasta and was paired with productive east-to-southeast winds, averaging 5-10 mph with gusts up to 36 mph. Previous wind loading was observed yesterday on south-, west-, and northwest-facing slopes in near- and above treeline terrain. Today, winds will shift back to the northwest and could redistribute fresh snow onto southerly facing slopes. Use caution on near‑ and above‑treeline slopes steeper than 35 degrees. If you suddenly encounter deeper, drifted snow in avalanche terrain, you may want to avoid dropping in.

    As always, watch for blowing snow, newly formed cornices, wind pillows, and scoured surfaces—all reliable indicators of fresh wind slabs. Cracking or small blocks failing on test slopes signals that larger avalanches may be possible on steeper, more consequential terrain. Avoid slopes where wind slabs are present, and be prepared to adjust your route if you observe signs of instability.

  • Loose Wet

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

    A full day of sunshine will soften snow surfaces on solar aspects, increasing the likelihood of wet loose avalanches during the warmest hours. Avoid steep, sunny slopes once the snow begins to lose cohesion, indicated by rollerballs or pinwheels. This is generally a low‑consequence problem, but it’s still worth managing—especially in extreme terrain. Staying off warm near‑ and below‑treeline slopes during peak solar input.

    (2/11/2026)

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

    Photo: Hayden MacArthur

Avalanche Discussion

If you let any engine sit long enough, it's probably going to have trouble firing back up. After our way to long of winter hiatus, this is the case with Mother Nature this week. A cheeky refresher on Tuesday night is priming the motor for hopefully more robust storms to come this weekend. 

Today brings the first clear skies following Tuesday night’s and Wednesday morning’s storm. With sunshine returning, many will naturally be drawn into alpine terrain. While the Old Ski Bowl weather station measured only two inches, on‑the‑ground observations showed four to six inches of new snow on Mount Shasta.  Yesterday's foray with photos is documented here.

Water year precipitation (since Oct 1) for Mount Shasta City is 18% above normal. Snow depth is below normal at 54% for the Sacramento, Shasta and Trinity Watersheds and 72% for the McCloud watershed.

Snow depths:

Mount Shasta, near treeline: ~65 inchesCastle Lake: ~27 inchesMount Eddy, Wagon Bowl: ~29 inches

Regions covered