Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New wind slabs were easily triggered on Friday; after being on the ground for a day they will are still possible to trigger on Saturday. Recently formed wind slabs will be on north, east, and southeast slopes near and below treeline. Identify wind loaded slopes and be cautious on terrain features where significant wind loading has occured.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs were reported as easily triggered on Friday near treeline on slopes where wind blown snow was accumulating. Often times, wind slabs are most sensitive to triggering when they are newly formed. With wind speeds expected to back off on Saturday, we may see light amounts of blowing snow, but the bulk of the wind slab formation occured on Friday. Wind slabs need more time to bond and heal. It is too soon to take these off the list and wind slabs will still be possilbe to trigger on Saturday. 

    Remember, wind slabs can be many times deeper than the amount of snow that fell during the storm. Montior the depth of wind drifted snow as you move through lee terrain below ridge tops. As you observe increased depth of wind loaded snow, expect resulting avalanches to become larger. Ease into steeper terrain. Look for cornices at ridgetops and rough, wavy, or chalky surface texture on lee slopes to indicate where wind slabs have formed. If you encounter cracking in wind drifted snow, or observe recent avalanches, that is a good indication to stay off of slopes steeper than 30 degrees. 

  • Storm Slabs

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

    New snow has been reported as bonding well to the Jan 06 rain crust, but mid storm instabilities have also been reported. In some areas, a layer of weaker lighter snow is on top of the rain crust with slightly denser heavier snow on top of that. The new storm snow above the rain crust has been reported as up to 8-10" and that is enough for a storm slab. Storm slabs typically trend to being more stubborn to trigger with time. Lets give this one a little more time and keep watching for it on Saturday.

    Storm slabs will be more likely to trigger in steep, convex, and unsupported terrain. Use small and inconsequential test slopes to gain information on how sensitive storm slabs are to triggering.

Avalanche Discussion

On Friday, there were several reports of skier triggered wind slabs and storm slabs on north and east facing slopes near treeline.  Reported avalanches were size D1-1.5.

 

 

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