Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Persistent moderate to strong winds, coupled with yesterday's drier snowfall, leaves us with optimal wind loading conditions. Wind slabs and drifts are forming in isolated terrain near treeline, and in leeward northerly aspects above treeline. You can mitigate this problem by travelling on wind-scoured surfaces and watching for signs of instability such as blowing snow, shooting cracks and collapsing.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Over the past 24 hours, we have received 6-8 inches of new snow. Wind has been blowing primarily out of the south, averaging 12 mph with gusts up to 42 mph. The new and wind transported snow is resting on a slick and supportable crust.

    Today, continued wind and light snow accumulation maintains the potential for wind slab formation near and above treeline on SE through N through SW aspects. 

    Pay attention to leeward northerly slopes where wind blown snow is accumulating and express heightened caution in extreme terrain where you are more likely to encounter slabs that could carry you into early season hazards.

    Active wind loading, shooting cracks and collapsing are indicators of instability to watch for throughout the day.

    (12/2/2023)

    Example photo of a wind slab cracking.

    Photo: Samuel Clairmont

Avalanche Discussion

We have all the ingredients necessary for wind slab development and potentially an avalanche in near and above treeline terrain on Mount Shasta. Our uncertainty lies in that, due to low visibility, we did not observe any natural avalanches or obvious signs of wind slab while out in the field yesterday. What we saw was consistent moderate to strong winds transporting 6-8 inches of new, dry snow into drifts on leeward aspects. All the aforementioned ingredients together make for a dangerous wind slab recipe.

Regions covered