Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger for our region is high across the board. Over the next 24 hours, 3+ feet of heavy snow is expected to fall on the existing 1-2 feet of light, low-density snow. This, combined with rising winds, will make human-triggered avalanches all but a certainty if you're on slopes greater than 30 degrees. If you absolutely must venture into avalanche terrain, avoid as many steep slopes as possible, and utilize safe-travel techniques at all times.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    3-5 feet of new, heavier snow on top of the existing 1-2 feet of low-density snow will create textbook conditions for avalanches. If you're out and about in safe terrain, be cautious of micro-terrain features such as convex rollovers, particularly anywhere overlooking small terrain traps such as gullies or drainages. With so much snow on the horizon, a small slide could have much larger consequences than normal.

    (3/8/2023)

    Existing storm snow on 

    Photo: N Meyers

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Southwest winds will trend upwards towards 100 mph on the upper mountain today and tonight. Combine that with an existing 2 feet of low-density snow on the ground available for transport, 3-5 feet of new snow on top of that, and you've got the recipe for a classic upside-down avalanche cake. But, just like your wacky aunt's holidy fruitcake, this is one confection that's best viewed from a distance.

Avalanche Discussion

Variability between zones (think east and west side of i-5) exists, but one thing they have in common is increasing, high avalanche danger with all the new snow incoming. Normally, given our maritime snowpack, we see avalanche danger lessen quickly following a storm. This time, snow levels are expected to rise on Friday afternoon with precipitation continuing. Depending on how high the snow levels go, we'll continue to see either more water or more snow being added to the snowpack. Either one could add significant weight to a snowpack that's just waiting for the right trigger to come along. 

While not avalanche related per se, make sure you're keeping an eye out for tree wells. These can be a hazard even at the Ski Park! With so much snow falling on those big trees, some of the tree wells can easily swallow an unsuspecting person.

Please, if you see any avalanche activity or interesting findings, we'd love to hear about them. Heck, they don't even have to be that interesting! You can send any observations to our website site Mount Shasta Avalanche Center big blue (submit avalanche Observation) button, or email us at [email protected]. A little goes a long way! 

"When snow is the problem, terrain is the solution."

Road/Recreation Status:

  • Everitt Memorial Highway is CLOSED
  • Castle Lake road is CLOSED
  • Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park - OPEN
  • Deer Mountain Snowmobile Park - OPEN

Regions covered