Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Watch for signs of wet and saturated snow on Monday. If you see slushy surface snow, and visual clues such as rollerballs and loose wet avalanches, avoid avalanche terrain. Avoid wind loaded avalanche terrain in the high alpine.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Rain is expected to continue into the early morning hours at lower and mid elevations, along with daytime highs in the upper 30's F on Monday. Water in the snowpack will likely be reaching layer boundaries in the upper and possibly mid pack and subsequently layers and interfaces will remain weak into Monday. 

    If you are venturing into the above treeline band keep an eye on where the snow is wet and saturated. This problem could extent into the upper elevations as snow level is rising on Monday night and even the high alpine terrain could get some rain.

  • Loose Wet

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

    The upper snowpack will likely be wet and slushy on Monday following the rain on Sunday and Sunday night. The warm daytime high on Monday will not help. When the snow surface is slushy, stay off of steep slopes. Loose wet avalanches will be likely to trigger and could also go natural. These will be larger than the typical samll wet loose avalanches we see commonly in the spring.

    If you are venturing into the above treeline band keep an eye on where the snow is wet and saturated. This problem could extent into the upper elevations as snow level is rising on Monday night and even the high alpine terrain could get some rain.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    High alpine terrain was expected to get up to 10" or more of snow with moderate westerly winds on Sunday which could translate  to the formation of large windslabs. Avoid wind loaded slopes. Look for visual clues such as fresh cornices, pillow drifts, and wavy surface features on lee slopes to help determine if slopes are loaded.

    More snow could be falling and moved by the wind in the upper reaches on Sunday night, although it is possible the above treeline zone could get a touch of rain with rising snow levels.

Avalanche Discussion

No suprisingly, there were no observations from the mountains on Sunday. The region got a healthy dose of rain at the elevation of all trailheads and acces points and above. It is possible that after the storm clears we will see evidence of large wet avalanches that went naturally during the rain event. The wet problems will largely subside when the temperature dips down below freezing on on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Regions covered