Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Another very warm day is expected for the Mount Shasta region. With no freeze overnight, expect elevated instability in the snowpack today. Careful snowpack evaluation, and vigilant monitoring of weather trends will be crucial. Natural avalanches are possible near and above treeline. Once the snow begins to feel deep and slushy, it's time to get off of avalanche terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Another very warm day is expected. Many areas did not see a refreeze overnight. The snowpack will continue to destabilize, releasing in the form of wet loose avalanches. Stay vigilant today, when you begin to see roller balls, pinwheels, and wet loose sloughs, it's time to get off steeper terrain. These avalanches can take you off your feet and entrain a surprising amount of snow. Expect to find this problem anywhere the temperatures are rising.

    Wet loose slides

  • Cornices

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

    Today will be another warm day, with no freeze overnight up to 10,000 feet. Cornices are continuing to weaken with these conditions. The longer that these warm conditions persist, the weaker these cornices will become. When they fail, they may break in 10-20 foot diameter chunks, pulling whatever unstable snow it can with it. As the temps begin to rise, avoid traveling underneath or on top of these cornices. 

  • Wet Slabs

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

    This problem is focused on areas that haven't seen warming in the last couple of days. Up to 10,000 feet, there was no freeze overnight. The upper snowpack is continuing to saturate. If triggered, these avalanches have the potential to take you off your feet and bury you. Once you start to see pinwheels, roller balls, and wet loose sloughs, it's time to get off steep terrain.

    Wet slab (4.8.23)

Avalanche Discussion

Spring has sprung, folks. Today is the first day with no freeze overnight up to 10,000 feet. Current mountain temperatures are 41 degrees F at treeline, which means that the mountain has a head start in warming before the sun has even risen. If you are going into the backcountry today, get on it early. As the day gets late, It's going to get quite soft and unstable on steep slopes.

EVENT: The Mt Shasta Avalanche Center's Community and Members Appreciation Party is happening on Saturday, April 15th, from 4-7 pm at Spring Hill Nursery and Gardens in Mount Shasta City. Come join all your local snow buddies, drink a cold one, and groove to some tunes. We'll be there...rain or shine! Admission, food, drink and music is FREE of charge. This is our chance to appreciate YOU! Thanks for the awesome season.

  • Everitt Memorial Highway is CLOSED
  • Castle Lake road is CLOSED
  • Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • Deer Mountain Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • MS Ski Park/Nordic Center - OPEN

Regions covered