Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

On Monday, it will remain possible to trigger avalanches in wind deposited snow.  These avalanches are most likely on North and East slopes beneath ridgelines.  While the avalanche danger will remain Moderate because avalanches will be limited to this specific terrain, avalanches could be large.  If you leave the relative calm of the forest and lower elevation terrain, evaluate the extent of wind blown snow on slopes less than 30 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    I was surprised to trigger a sizable Wind Slab avalanche on Sunday (North, 7,300 ft.), given the small amounts of new snow I observed lower in the terrain.  My friend pointed out that the wind was moving snow "like a conveyor belt".  This will likely be the story for the near future:  Snowfall could be heavy at times, but total accumulations won't be more than a few inches each day or night.  Wind speeds may not be sustained, but there will certainly be periods where the wind is moving the new snow.  These spring storms seem to produce more variable weather across the region (even some lightning strikes were reported in Deschutes county on Sunday) and avalanche conditions may vary a bit more than usual as well.

Regions covered