Avalanche forecast

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

New snow and strong winds will maintain an increased risk of wind slabs above treeline. It is possible that you will encounter wind-drifted snow and slabs in isolated and extreme terrain. You can mitigate this avalanche problem by recognizing avalanche paths, traveling 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

    Freezing rain in near treeline terrain yesterday completely saturated the 6-8 inches of new snow received in the past 48 hours, rendering it unavailable for wind transport. It is for this reason that we now only expect a wind slab problem to live above treeline where we did not receive rain on snow.

    Today, continued wind and additional loading in the afternoon maintain the potential for wind slab formation above treeline.

    Pay attention to 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

The wind continues to blow and significant snowfall will arrive this afternoon. With that, the potential for developing wind slabs exists in above treeline terrain on Mount Shasta. The danger rating for near treeline is moderate because an above treeline avalanche bears the potential to run down into near treeline terrain. Express heightened risk if traveling in or near avalanche terrain today, especially in the latter half of the day as the snowpack receives additional loading. 

The uncertainty today is two-fold. One, we do not know how high the rain crust formed yesterday. We have confirmed that the freezing rain has produced a slick bed surface up to at least 9,200 feet but may go beyond into the upper elevations where you are more likely to encounter wind slab. Two, due to low visibility, we have not observed natural avalanches or obvious signs of wind slab in the field for the past two days. 

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