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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Wind slabs will become more stubborn but it will still be possible to trigger a slab avalanche in wind drifted snow on Friday. Southerly winds over the last two days have loaded west, north, and east slopes near and above treeline. Identify terrain features that have been wind loaded and if you observe signs of unstable snow such as cracking or previous avalanches, move to lower angle terrain less than 30 degrees steep. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs will become harder to trigger on Friday but still something to keep in mind when riding on lee terrain features.

    With a few inches of new snow possible Thursday night and into Friday, new shallow wind slabs may form on lee slopes. Wind slabs form in specific areas where wind blown snow accumulates and are typically found below ridge tops, high points, and around features where cross slope winds deposit snow.

    They can be avoided by choosing terrain that does not catch blowing snow.

    Identify features that have been wind loaded and use careful evaluation, especially on slopes where steep runouts and terrain traps can increase the consequence of being caught in an avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday, new snow from the last 24 hours became heavy and dense as the temperature increased throughout the day. No storm slab activity was observed  in steep and rolling terrain and recent snow is bonding well with older snow. 

Regions covered