Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

It will be possible to trigger a slab avalanche in wind drifted snow on north, east, and south facing slopes near and above treeline. Monitor lee slopes for signs of wind loading and unstable snow such as shooting cracks in the surface snow. Most avalanches will be small, however evaluate slopes for terrain features that can increase the consequence of being caught in an avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    With new snow expected overnight on Thursday and into Friday along with west and southwest winds, new wind slabs may build around lee terrain features. Wind slabs tend to form below ridge tops and high points on lee slopes and other features that catch blowing snow. On the volcanic cone shaped mountains we can see cross loading as wind moves snow across a slope and can load gullies and other mid slope features.

    Monitor where wind deposits are accumulating and be cautious on wind loaded slopes with terrain traps below.

    Existing wind slabs have been stubborn to triggering and no wind slab avalanches have been reported in the last few days. 

Avalanche Discussion

The air temperature on Friday will increase to around freezing or just above freezing with the chance of some rain and freezing rain. I am not expecting the warming and/or liquid precipitation to have enough of an effect on the snowpack to bring on wet avalanche types on Friday. If surface snow becomes wet, we may see some roller balls and pinwheels or very small wet loose avalanches. Lower elevation areas in the forecast zone such as Santiam Pass may see more rain and warmer temperatures and could bring on an increased chance of wet loose avalanches especially in steep terrain.

The Dec. 8th buried surface hoar can still be found in snow pits on northerly and easterly aspects around 40 - 60 cm (16 - 24") below the surface. No avalanches associated with the Dec. 8th surface hoar have been reported in almost 2 weeks. Currently, we are not expecting avalanches on this layer. 

Regions covered