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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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches can happen at all elevations and all aspects on Thursday.  Avalanches will be larger and have more sensitivity to triggering in areas where the wind has blown snow into deeper deposits at the mid and upper elevations. Be especially cautious in areas where avalanches can push you into terrain traps such as rocks, trees, cliffs, and other features that can increase the consequence of getting caught in a slide. You can minimize your exposure to avalanches by staying in terrain that is less than 30 degrees steep.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The recent snow is very low density and will be easily moved by the wind. Even with light winds in the forecast, we could see some significant drifts. Below ridges and highpoints are places where wind blown snow often accumulates. Slabs can also form as wind moves across a slope and fills in depressions and gully features. Wind slabs can be tricky to judge because some lee features will have minimal wind loading while other features seem to collect a lot more blowing snow. Deeper wind deposits can lead to larger avalanches. The wind direction may shift around the compass on Thursday, hence the distribution on all aspects.  

     

    Archive Photo:

    Cracking in wind drifted snow. This is a classic indicator of unstable snow. 

  • Storm Slabs

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

    The snow on the surface is very light and has little cohesion, however the snow down 20 - 30 cm has enough cohesion to create a slab. On Wednesday I was able to trigger a storm slab easily on a small convex test slope. Bigger slopes have the potential to make bigger avalanches. The places you are more likely to trigger a storm slab are in steep, convex, and unsupported (such as above a cliff) terrain. 

    On Wednesday I found degrated surface hoar on a north facing slope near sparse trees.  I am not ruling out patches of intact surface hoar in open clearings on shaded and wind sheltered slopes. Storm slabs releasing on buried surface hoar will have the chance to propagate wider and run farther down the slope. It is worth taking the time to dig in a safe location to check for the presence of buried surface hoar before choosing consequential terrain, especially on northerly aspects below treeline.

    Dry loose avalanches are also possible. 

    (2/18/2026)

    Skier triggered storm slab. This was a small (D1) slab with a crown of 25 cm (10"). Triggered on a small convex test slope, east aspect, below treeline. 

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

Avalanche Discussion

Use terrain to your advantage on Thursday. You can always stick to the low angle slopes and have a blast riding. The powder is good right now. Use small test slopes to check for reactivity and depth of slabs. Ease into the terrain and look for ways to avoid steep convex rolls. 

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