Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches will continue to be possible at upper elevations where the wind has blown recent snow into a cohesive slab.  Over the last 24 hours the wind has shifted from the East to the SouthWest meaning that any slopes other than those facing South could harbor potential Wind Slabs.  If you are skiing at or above treeline, be cautious on steep slopes that are unusually smooth and sheltered from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind Slabs occurr when the wind blows both falling snow and the snow on the ground onto sheltered slopes.  This "blown in" snow can form a cohesive slab of snow, and can be 3-5 times deeper than in sheltered areas.

    During Sunday and into Monday morning we had Moderate and Strong winds from the East which actually stripped some of our East facing slopes and created patterns of wind loading opposite to what we typically see (the below picture shows Wind effect from the East near Santiam Pass).  By noon on Monday the wind had shifted back to the SouthWest with the potential to reload the previously stripped slopes. 

    Long story short, I would expect variable wind loading throughout the terrain with shallow, stubborn Wind Slabs possible on any slope other than South.  Danger will be isolated to very specific terrain features.

    (12/4/2022)

    The Wicked East Wind!

    Photo: Gabriel Coler

Avalanche Discussion

Above 6000 ft. we are seeing snow heights of around 130 cm.  We received the majority of this snow last week.  No avalanches were observed or recorded today.

We have found burried surface hoar (a potential weak layer) on East Facing slopes near Todd Ridge (now burried approx. 70 cm.).  We haven't seen any avalanche activity on this layer, and it hasn't been observed elsewhere in the range.

Regions covered