AVALANCHE WATCH…THE USDA FOREST SERVICE MT. SHASTA AVALANCHE CENTER HAS ISSUED AN AVALANCHE WATCH FOR THE MT. SHASTA AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THE MT. SHASTA AREA IS EXPECTING UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND.
THIS MAY WEAKEN BONDS WITHIN THE SNOWPACK AND LEAD TO AVALANCHES. GREATEST RISK IS EXPECTED ON SOUTHERLY ASPECTS DURING THE WARMEST PARTS OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN TERRAIN TRAPS AND AVALANCHE PATHS. AVALANCHES ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AFTER 11am. WE EXPECT THE INSTABILITY TO REACH HIGHER ELEVATIONS THIS WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES RISE.
THOSE TRAVELING ABOVE TIMBERLINE SHOULD HAVE EXTENSIVE AVALANCHE KNOWLEDGE, TRAVEL CAUTIOUSLY, AND USE CAREFUL ROUTE SELECTION.
While sun balls and most point releases are not as dangerous as slab avalanches, they are great signs of some instability in the snow as it warms and settles. Avoid travelling in terrain traps like gulleys, especially during warming hours of the day. Listen for hollow sounds of wind slabs and be ready to tip toe to safe places if you trigger shooting cracks or hear "whumpfing" sounds.
***Natural slab avalanches occurred Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 7, 8, 9 & 10. While most of these were shallow slabs, some were more than 1000 ft. wide. Five human triggered slides occurred on Sunday, May 10. Luckily, there were no fatalities or injuries. These are Red Flags of avalanche danger. All of these occurred below 10,000 ft., predominantly on SE aspects, but some on S, E, and NW aspects.***
THE MT. SHASTA AREA IS EXPECTING UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND.
THIS MAY WEAKEN BONDS WITHIN THE SNOWPACK AND LEAD TO AVALANCHES. GREATEST RISK IS EXPECTED ON SOUTHERLY ASPECTS DURING THE WARMEST PARTS OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN TERRAIN TRAPS AND AVALANCHE PATHS. AVALANCHES ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AFTER 11am. WE EXPECT THE INSTABILITY TO REACH HIGHER ELEVATIONS THIS WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES RISE.
THOSE TRAVELING ABOVE TIMBERLINE SHOULD HAVE EXTENSIVE AVALANCHE KNOWLEDGE, TRAVEL CAUTIOUSLY, AND USE CAREFUL ROUTE SELECTION.
While sun balls and most point releases are not as dangerous as slab avalanches, they are great signs of some instability in the snow as it warms and settles. Avoid travelling in terrain traps like gulleys, especially during warming hours of the day. Listen for hollow sounds of wind slabs and be ready to tip toe to safe places if you trigger shooting cracks or hear "whumpfing" sounds.
***Natural slab avalanches occurred Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 7, 8, 9 & 10. While most of these were shallow slabs, some were more than 1000 ft. wide. Five human triggered slides occurred on Sunday, May 10. Luckily, there were no fatalities or injuries. These are Red Flags of avalanche danger. All of these occurred below 10,000 ft., predominantly on SE aspects, but some on S, E, and NW aspects.***
For more information call the United States Forest Service Mount Shasta Avalanche Center and Wilderness Department at 926-9613 or go to www.shastaavalanche.org.
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