Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Continuing snow accumulation and South winds will cause the avalanche danger to rise into Monday.  Wind Slab avalanches are likely on North slopes in the alpine and at treeline.  Warming temperatures mean that shallow Storm Slab avalanches are possible below treeline.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Sunday ended with about 5 inches of new snow on the ground.  There is the possibility of a few more inches tonight and tomorrow afternoon.  This is plenty of snow for continuing winds from the South to load into North facing start zones.  Evaluate potentially wind loaded slopes safely by making investigations on low angle terrain.  Cracking around your skin track or abnormally deep boot/ski penetration on lee slopes are good signs that Wind Slab avalanches are possible.  When in doubt, stick to lower elevation slopes.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Shallow Storm Slabs are possible with fluctuations in the rate of new snowfall and changes in temperature.  With less than a foot of new snow, these are likely to be small, but I'm including them in the problem list because of the potential for slab characteristics and propogation.  Be particularly aware of steep, convex terrain where terrain traps are present.

Avalanche Discussion

The Cascades saw continuous snow all day Sunday with 24 hour snow totals of 4-6 inches.  Much of the region has a very thin rime crust beneath this lastest snow.  Last weeks storm snow beneath this thin crust is still fist hard but so far hasn't showed any signs of peristent weaknesses.

The prominent rain crust from early January is now buried 35 - 60 cm.  In locations where this crust isn't buried deeply, we've been finding poorly developed facets beneath it.  We haven't seen any avalanche activity on this layer.

Regions covered