Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will increase on Wednesday as the mountains pick up more snow. Triggering avalanches in new wind drifted snow will be likely near treeline and above treeline and anywhere wind blown snow is accumulating. Look for signs of unstable snow such as cracking and recent avalanches as indicators that avalanches can happen and when in doubt about snow stability stick to slopes less than 30 degrees steep. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    This problem will build through the day as more snow falls. Moderate to strong winds out of the southwest will build wind slabs on lee terrain features primarily on northerly and easterly aspects. 

    Wind slabs usually form below ridges and high points. The wind wrapping around north and south aspects can cause wind slabs to build across a slope. Use visual clues such as wavy surface texture and pillowy drifits as an indicator of where this problem is present. Previous avalanches and cracking in wind deposited snow are indicators that wind slab avalanches can occur. 

    Wind can pile up snow many times deeper than the snow dropped by the storm. Monitor the depth of wind deposited snow; as wind slabs become deeper, avalanches can become larger.

    With strong winds in the forecast, be cautious in areas that you may typically think of as 'below treeline', especially in clearings and areas of sparse or dead trees. These areas can be exposed to wind blowing snow and wind slabs can develop. 

    (3/26/2024)

    Skier triggered slab avalanche on a wind loaded convex roll on Tuesday. NNE facing slope near treeline in the Santiam Pass area. The crown was 15 - 20 cm (6 - 8"). Size D1 (small).

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

Avalanche Discussion

Wet slab and wet loose avalanches will be possible at the lowest elevations in the forecast zone on all aspects especially if rain begins soaking the upper snowpack. Pinwheels and roller balls are the percursors to wet avalanches. As the surface snow becomes wet and heavy or slushy, consider moving to lower angle slopes less than 30 degrees. 

New cornices will grow as wind blows snow over ridge tops. Be cautious in places where you can't see over the edge of a ridge. 

If storm snow accumulation exceeds 8-10" storm slab avalanches will be possible in areas where the wind has not moved snow away.

Regions covered