Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

It will be possible to trigger avalanches in recently wind drifted snow on Friday. Wind slabs have formed on northerly and easterly aspects near and above treeline. If you observe cracking in wind deposited snow or recent wind slab avalanches, be cautious on wind loaded slopes over 30 degrees. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Natural and skier triggered wind slab avalanches were observed on Thursday. Although incoming snow will be minimal (1-2" expected) shallow wind slabs may continue to form on lee slopes. Most wind slab avalanches will be small and specific to areas where wind blowing snow has accumulated. Wind slabs formed over the last day or two will be trending to being more difficult to trigger but are still something to be aware of. Use caution on lee slopes, especially in steep terrain and around terrain traps. 

    Look for new cornices or a rough, wavy, or chalky texture on the snow surface to indicate where wind slabs have formed. It is important to remember that wind deposits can be many times deeper than the accumulated storm snow. Monitor the depth of wind drifted snow as you move through lee terrain below ridge tops and around features that catch blowing snow. As you observe increased depth of wind loaded snow, expect resulting avalanches to become larger.

Avalanche Discussion

On Friday, sun breaks and warming temperatures to around freezing may begin to affect the snow surface. The sun is intense this time of year even with small breaks in the clouds. Keep an eye on signs, such as roller balls and pinwheels, that are precursers to wet loose avalanches. Although I don't expect wet loose avalanches to be much of a problem on Friday, always keep an eye on changing conditions. 

As snow has come in and settled over the last two weeks, we have a right side up snowpack with 80 - 90 cm of snow on top of the old melt freeze crust.

Tune into the forecast on Saturday; conditions will be changing quite a lot with incoming sun and increasing temperatures.

Regions covered