Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Watch out for small wind slabs if you find yourself adventuring into above treeline, alpine terrain on Mount Shasta where it is colder, windier and an inch or two of new snow may be blowing around. It could be possible to trigger a slab avalanche in steep terrain with wind drifted snow. Most avalanches will be small. Evaluate slopes for terrain features that can increase the consequence of being caught in a small avalanche. Near and below treeline, the avalanche danger is low. Snow surfaces are challenging.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Above treeline, above the rain line, in areas that are more wintry than what we've been seeing...new wind slabs are possible on leeward slopes. Westerly wind has likely created small to medium size drifts on NE-E-SE facing slopes. On a volcano, we can often see cross-loading on slopes as wind moves snow across a slope, loading gullies and other convex, mid-slope features. Monitor where wind deposits are accumulating and be cautious on these slopes with terrain traps.

Avalanche Discussion

I like to get weird, but I don't like it when winter does. A massive warm spell is upon us. Fortunately, precipitation amounts are light, so our snowpack shouldn't go completely to h-e-double hockey sticks. We just have to grin and bear it this holiday weekend and keep next week in sight: an active period of weather and colder temps to ring in the New Year. Avalanches and signs of avalanche danger have been nil, but if you find the mojo to venture up into higher elevation terrain today, us caution for small avalanches in specific areas.

Regions covered