Bollettino valanghe

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
3 · Marcato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Avalanche risk will reside within new snow today. Low danger this morning will rise as the arriving storm throttles up. Considerable danger is possible by late afternoon and evening. Wind out of the south will accompany warmer than normal temperatures. Watch for fresh wind and storm slabs forming on firm snow surfaces. Visibility will be difficult above treeline.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2.5

    The Valentine's Day storm earlier in the week brought a fat foot of new snow to the area, resulting in several skier triggered wind and storm slab avalanches in the Castle Lake and Mount Shasta area. That snow has settled out well without further instability. A repeat is imminent, however, with a foot of snow forecast over the next 24 hours in the mountains above 6,500 feet.  Wind advisories are in place for the Shasta Valley. Southerly wind will do what it does best: blow snow around! Your primary focus should be new snow accumulation creating wind and storm slab avalanche problems. Existing snow surfaces in our prime avalanche starting zones are smooth and firm. Red flags of avalanche danger anticipated today: heavy snow, wind blowing snow and shooting cracks. Use inconsequential test slopes as your canary in the coal mine for avalanche danger. Mother Nature will speak to you, but not in the traditional sense. As you skin or ride up a mountain, look, listen and feel your environment. Do not ignore Mother Nature's warning signs. If red flags are flying, direct your course of travel away from avalanche terrain. Remember, if you're not in avalanche terrain, you can't get caught by an avalanche. Measure slope steepness: anything over 30 degrees is avalanche terrain.

    (2/14/2024)

    Cracking in recent/wind-loaded snow

    Photo: Cory Beattie

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    With a foot or more of snow in the forecast for the next 24 hours, storm slab avalanche danger should be on your radar. It's typically a short-lived problem, and is most dangerous immediately during or just after a storm. As mentioned in the wind slab problem, use small test slopes as indicators of what the bigger picture may hold. Storm slabs are most likely on any aspect near and below treeline and protected from the wind. This avalanche problem is the release of a soft, cohesive layer of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or at the interface between new and old snow.

    Credit: Sierra Avalanche Center

    Small, steep test slopes can help identify unstable storm slabs

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's skiing conditions provided some fun, funk and skunk. Above treeline hosted the funk with wind affected snow the dominant surface. Near treeline was the fun, with supportable, smooth and mostly soft turns available. Below treeline brought the skunk...heavy, wet and styrofoam like snow left something to be desired. All this is here nor there, as it will be covered up by fresh snow today. Existing instability has been hard to come by, but change is in store. The next 5 days will be wet, with feet of snow expected in the mountains. Avalanche danger is going to be a thing, so pay attention out there. Bunny Flat continues to be busy. Motorized users, remember that Deer Mountain and Pilgrim Creek Sno-Parks offer some fantastic riding opportunities east of Mount Shasta. The "Northeast Crest" is the ancestral migration of Mount Shasta and a chain of mountains and buttes that offer heaps of cold, shaded, north facing riding. At Ash Creek Butte, 105 inches of snow is on the ground. Check it out!Precipitation for the wet season in the Mount Shasta area is 86% of normal. For 2024, we are 58% of normal. Snow coverage is primarily above 5,500 feet. Near treeline on the mountain, 131 inches of snow is on the ground. West of I-5 in the Castle and Eddy mountains, 73 and 93 inches of snow exists at our weather station sites.  What does the remainder of the winter have in store? Check out the NWS Climate Predication Center, a great site.

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