Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 months ago.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

Highlights

Wet Loose avalanches are possible on Monday as the day heats up and melts the snow.  Consider how deep the melted, slushy snow is before committing to steep unsupported slopes.  Give cornices an extra margin of safety as they are weakened by the warm daytime temperatures.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Warm daytime high temperatures on Monday will melt the surface snow and Wet Loose avalanches will be possible.  Cloud cover can be a bit of a double-edged sword.  While daytimes may feel cooler without a lot of heat from the sun, the clouds also trap heat overnight.  Over the weekend, we have seen less Wet Loose avalanche activity than I expected.  Continue to monitor snow surface conditions, and move to cooler slopes or less steep slopes if you are traveling through deeper slushy snow.  The most obvious signs of Wet Loose avalanches are natural avalanches from the steepest terrain and beneath rocks and cliffs.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    All of the cornices will fall during the next month or so.  Cornices are most likely to fail during these very warm periods when the snow is melting.  It's always a good habit to give cornices some room, but during these warm spring days I particularly stay back from corniced ridges, and avoid spending prolonged time (skinning/booting) beneath cornices.

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