Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

For Sunday, human triggered avalanches will be possible. Warm temperatures will continue to lead to wet avalanche problems. Look for clues of wet avalanche types such as damp and wet snow, roller balls, and recent avalanches. Once you start seeing these signs, move to shadier slopes and/or lower angle terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    On Saturday I observed several small skier triggered wet loose avalanches on easterly to southerly aspects. This avalanche problem will continue into Sunday.

    For Sunday we will see a cooling trend; however, we will still have above freezing temperatures and the possibility of rain showers. As the day continues, steep sunny aspects will be the easiest slopes to trigger large wet loose avalanches on. Be cautious of small wet loose avalanches, as they can still knock you off your feet and into terrain traps (i.e. cliffs, trees, gulleys, creeks, crevasses, etc).

    Assess the snow surface for wet and slushy snow. If you find boot top wet snow, roller balls, or recent avalanches, move to slopes lower than 30 degrees. You can often use timing to mitigate this avalanche problem.

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Cornice fall will continue to be an issue with warm temperatures. There are still plenty of large conrices out there and some above consequential terrain. Give cornices a wide berth as they tend to break back farther than expected. Avoid hanging out below cornices, and if you choose to travel below them, move effeciently. 

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Given the consistent warm temps and high freezing level, wet slabs will continue to be possible. There have been reports of slab avalanches this week throughout our local terrain primarily in the alpine. Wet slab avalanches occur when liquid water percolates into the snowpack and releases a slab. If you see signs of wet/slushy snow, wet loose avalanches and pin wheels, these are indicators that wet slab avalanches are possible. This avalanche type is hard to predict, and they can be very large and destructive.

Avalanche Discussion

On Saturday, I toured around Broken Top. I found the snow surface to primarily be wet with no significant refreeze overnight. I recorded an air temp of 59 F at 7,600ft around noon. Pin wheels and small wet loose avalanches were easily triggered on easterly and southerly aspects.

This is the last day of avalanche forecasts for the 2022/2023 season. Please continue to submit your observations this spring on our observation page. We hope you all continue to enjoy the deep snowpack and have a safe spring season!

-COAC Team

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