Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

There's a lingering possibility that you could trigger avalanches in wind loaded or sun affected terrain. Assess slopes for wind loading by observing snow surface texture and areas where the snow becomes firmer, especially near ridgeops and in gullies. Choose wind-scoured and shaded areas to reduce your odds of triggering an avalanche today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Recent public observation submissions confirm the presence of wind slabs in both avalanche activity and surface conditions: wind loading on leeward aspects and sastrugi texture on windward aspects. Over the past three days, winds from the northwest have averaged 5 mph, with gusts up to 36 mph. Expect to find wind slabs and fresh cornices on N, NE, E, SE, and S slopes. With the recent change of wind direction from southerly to northerly flow, you may find rogue wind slabs on northwest aspects, too.

    Wind efficiently redistributes snow, forming slabs in leeward areas. Watch for blowing snow and cracking—key signs of instability. To increase your margin of safety, stick to slopes less than 30° and, if you choose steeper terrain, travel on wind-scoured surfaces.

    (2/8/2025)

    Shooting cracks on a wind-loaded aspect in Cascade Gulch

    Photo: Erik Short

  • Loose Wet

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

    Despite sub-freezing temperatures, anytime the sun comes out after new snow, this avalanche problem may rear its head. Sun after fresh snow increases instability by creating free water in the snowpack that weakens bonding of the surface snow. Overall, sunny conditions can both stabilize and destabilize the snowpack depending on the timing, intensity, and prior conditions. Avalanche danger often increases in the afternoon as solar heating peaks.

    Watch out for falling tree bombs as the sun warms the canopy above. Lower-elevation sunlit slopes may see roller balls, pinwheels, and loose sloughs. If you observe the snow surface losing cohesion, choose a shadier aspect or avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Whether you see an avalanche or not, keep those observations coming. Your submissions are a great way of supporting your backcountry community and are an invaluable tool to us as forecasters. Snow height measurements, wind direction and speed, temperature, and sky condition are all excellent data points that help us to paint the big picture.

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