Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

New snow combined with westerly winds will make triggering a slab avalanche in wind deposited snow likely on lee slopes near and above treeline on Friday. Triggering a slab avalanche in the new storm snow will be possible. Ease into the terrain and evaluate slopes for windloading, and if you see signs of unstable snow such as cracking in the surface snow or previous avalanches increase your safety margin by moving to lower angle slope options less than 30 degrees steep.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow is expected throughout the night and into Friday combined with sustained winds capable of transporting snow. As the snow stacks up, new wind slabs will build through the night and into Friday. In much of the wind loaded terrain, triggering an avalanche will result in a small slide, but those isolated pockets that catch a lot of blowing snow and build thick slabs could produce large avalanches. With strong winds overnight, wind drifts may form in weird places. Not all lee terrain will be loaded, so use visual clues to let you know where wind slabs have formed. Look for visual clues on the snow surface, such as pillowy deposits and wavy or ripply surface texture, to let you know if previous wind transport has occured. Actively blowing snow and new cornices can also help identify wind loaded slopes.

    Around here, wind slabs are typically most reactive during and just after the storm. Ease into terrain by checking out the wind loading on lower angle slopes.

    As drifts become deeper, resulting avalanches can become larger.  Monitor the depth of wind slabs and look for signs of unstable snow such as cracking in the slab or recent avalanches.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    New snow is expected to stack up and with temperatures on the warmer side (mid to upper 20's....and low 30's F at lower elevations) the snow will likely exhibit cohesion and form a slab. Storm slabs will be possible to trigger especially in steep, unsupported, and rolling terrain.

    Storm slabs will not be large enough to bury a person on most slopes, however watch out for features such as gullies, depressions, and other terrain traps that can increase the consequence of being caught in a storm slab avalanche. 

Avalanche Discussion

Lower elevation areas like Santiam Pass could get some rain overnight and a mix of rain and snow throughout Friday. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches will be possible in areas where there has been enough rain on snow to make the surface snow slushy and saturated. Most wet avalanches will be small, but be aware of terrain traps and what is below you. 

Due to weather and visibility we have limited observations from the upper elevations. No avalanche activity has been reported in recent days. 

Regions covered