Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Triggering avalanches in wind affected snow near treeline and above treeline will be possible on Thursday. Low elevation areas will have the potential for wet snow avalanches if surface snow becomes wet and slushy. Avoid steep slopes with deep wind drifts and be cautious around terrain features such as rocks, cliffs, and gullies that can increase the consequence of getting caught in an avalanche. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The wind has been moving a lot of snow over the last few days in some places. Many of the older wind slabs are trending towards inactive but there may be a few pockets of reactive wind slab lingering espeically in the upper elevations. The mountains will not get a lot of new snow over the next 24 hours....a few inches overnight and a few inches possible on Thursday. However, wind can pile up snow many times deeper than the storm accumulation. Most wind slab avalanches will be on the small side, but watch for those pieces of terrain that catch a lot of blowing snow. This will be a good day to use your evaluation skills  to check for depth of wind deposits and reactivity of wind slabs before moving into avalanche terrain. Small safe test slopes are a great resource to check for depth of the slab, cracking in surface snow, and small avalanches before venturing into bigger and steeper terrain. Remember, as wind deposits become deeper, avalanches can become larger. 

     

  • Loose Wet

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

    This problem will be isolated to areas that receive enough rain to saturate the surface snow. Low elevation areas around Santiam pass will probably get the bulk of the rain. Use your observation skills and recognize when the snow is becoming wet and slushy down to ankle deep or more. Look for pinwheels and rollerballs as a precursor to the wet avalanches coming on. Most of these avalanches will be small, but be cautious above and around terrain traps where getting caught in an avalanche can lead to a bad outcome.

    Wet slab avalanches are also possible

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    With minimal snow coming in overnight and on Thursday, storm slabs will be unlikely but not out of the question. Some instabilities in the upper snowpack may be hanging on. Before dropping into steep, convex, or usnupported terrain do a little homework. Look for small steep test slopes you can utilize to check for slabs moving or other signs of unstable snow before going into bigger and steeper terrain. Most storm slab avalanches will be small, but remember that sliding into trees and rocks or over cliffs can make small avalanches lead to a worse outcome. 

Regions covered