Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Wet loose and wind slab avalanches will be possible on Saturday, but they will be small. Be cautious in steep terrain and around terrain traps where triggering an avalanche could result in a sliding fall.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    With a high high temperature in the low 40s on Saturday, the snow surface will warm up and small wet loose avalanches will be possible. 

    Roller balls and wet slushy surface snow are good indicators of wet loose avalanches becoming possible.

    Wet loose avalanches become possible when the surface snow looses cohesion due to warming. They often start at a single point and entrain more snow as they move downhill.

    Although wet loose avalanches on Saturday will not likely be large enough to bury a person, they can entrain enough snow to push you over or into terrain traps, or result in a long fall in steep terrain.

    On Friday, a wet loose avalanche was initiated by a skier triggered wind slab avalanche; east aspect near treeline (see pictures below).

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wind slabs formed over the last few days will become more stubborn to triggering. However, the wind is picking up out of the west and southwest and there is still soft snow available for transport. Blowing snow was observed in the afternoon on friday, moving to lee slopes on easterly aspects. New wind slabs will form overnight and into Saturday, although they will be shallow and triggering a wind slab will result in a small avalanche. 

    Wind slabs form in leeward terrain below ridge tops and high points. Some gully features could also have wind slabs due to cross slope winds. If you observe cracking in wind deposited snow or recent wind slab avalanches, be cautious on wind loaded slopes over 30 degrees. 

    A small skier triggered wind slab was reported on Friday near treeline, east aspect (see pictures below).

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche activity on Saturday will be related to surface warming and or wind drifted snow. Below the new snow/old snow interface the snowpack is generally strong.

Regions covered