Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The likelihood of avalanches is decreasing as our most recent storm snow settles onto the landscape.  We're not out of the woods yet though, and avalanches will remain possible near treeline and at alpine elevations.  Be suspicious of steep, unsupported slopes with deep deposits of new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Weak layers within the new snow are resolving themselves.  Test slopes and hand shears on Tuesday revealed mostly good bonding.  On isolated slopes, I observed some cracking of the surface snow and easy hand shears that can be associated with avalanches.  I opted for more conservative terrain choices in this case.

    The wind has been fickle lately.  Near treeline, wind speeds have felt abnormally light.  On Ball Butte, I found very little wind transported snow.  Looking over into Broken Top Bowl, I could see a very different scenario with evidence of significant wind transport (see picture).  In some locales, there were observations of blowing snow from the southeast.  I have had a hard time telling if instabilities and recent avalanches are related to the wind or just present in the layering of the storm snow.

    It is worth doing some snowpack evaluation before choosing to ride steep, unsupported slopes with smooth snow textures, whether they are immediately below ridgetops or further down slope.

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday remained colder than forecast.  By afternoon, there was a Light and cold wind out of the east.  The snow stayed remarkably pleasant except on steep south faces that had melted on Monday and likely again on Tuesday at lower elevations.  On Tuesday morning we observed Loose snow avalanches on South Sister and in Broken Top Bowl which most likely slid on Monday afternoon.  We may see smaller Loose snow instabilities on the warmest slopes on Wednesday, with clearer skies and warmer temperatures.

Regions covered