Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Significant new snow, accompanied by Moderate and Strong wind means that triggering an avalanche on steep wind loaded slopes will be likely on Monday.  Wind Slab avalanches will be likely on North, East, and SouthEast slopes near treeline and in the alpine.  Make conservative terrain choices if you choose to travel on these slopes.  Small avalanches are also possible below treeline due to the strong wind speeds and possibly heavy precipitation.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Continued snowfall overnight and during Monday will be redistributed by Moderate and Strong wind from the SouthWest.  While travel on alpine slopes may be near impossible (or at least unpleasant), be careful on North and East slopes near treeline or in any terrain where the wind is moving snow.  Moderate wind speeds are the best at creating reactive Wind Slabs directly below ridgetops and behind crossloaded features.  Strong winds often leave us with unpredictable loading patterns and sometimes we see wind hardened snow extending below treeline.  Use obvious visual clues to determine wind loading like:  blowing snow, recent cornice growth, and variable snow depths and textures on adjacent aspects.  It will be a good day to default to conservative terrain choices.  Often on these stormy days the best riding is below treeline.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Small pockets of instability may exist below treeline as well.  Generally cooling temperatures point to "right-side-up" storm snow, but sometimes we see shallow storm slabs associated with very heavy snowfall, as well as strong winds blowing snow from higher in the terrain.  Whether these are Storm Slabs or Wind Slabs is often up for debate, but the important message is to watch for cracking and cohesion in the new snow even below treeline.  Your best tools here are small test slopes, hand shears, and other observations that you can make on the fly.

Avalanche Discussion

Any avalanches on Monday will be direct action avalanches associated with the new snow and wind.  Avalanche danger will rise throughout the day as more snow falls and the size of potential avalanches increases.

Regions covered