Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Triggering a slab avalanche in wind deposited snow will be likely near and above treeline on lee slopes where wind transported snow has accumulated. Triggering a loose snow avalanche will be possible and widespread throughout the terrain, but will result in small avalanches. If you observe signs of unstable snow such as cracking in the snow surface or previous avalanches, or if you have uncertainty in the stability of the snowpack, increase your safety margin by staying on slopes less than 30 degrees steep. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The new cold and light snow will be easily transported by the wind and wind slabs will continue to  build overnight and on Thursday. Most wind slab avalanches will be small, but isolated terrain features could produce a large avalanche.  Triggering a wind slab avalanche will be more likeley in steep, convex, and unsupported terrain. Monitor the depth of wind transported snow. As wind deposits become deeper, wind slab avalanches can become larger. Use low angle lee slopes to monitor wind slabs before committing to steep slopes.

    Wind slabs can be found below ridgetops, high points, and around features that catch blowing snow from cross slope winds.

    On Wednesday, there were several reports of wind slabs being easy to trigger on north and northeast slopes near treeline. All avalanches were reported to be small.

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Triggering a dry loose avalanche will be possible anywhere that the snow  has not been greatly affected by the wind (i,e. scoured to old snow surface or packed into a wind slab).  In most cases triggering a dry loose avalanche will have little effect on your day. Be cautious where moving snow can cause you to loose your edge and go for a ride down a steep slope or get pushed into or over a terrain trap.

    Multiple small dry loose avalanches were reported on Wednesday on north and northeast facing slopes.

Regions covered