Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wind slabs created in the last 24 hours will be lingering and are still possible to trigger. There is still snow available for transport; although the wind is expected to be light, watch for blowing snow continuing to form small wind slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wind slab avalanches will be on the small side on Saturday. For people taking advantage of the weather window and venturing into the high country, be aware of wind loaded slopes below ridge tops and around cross loaded features. Small avalanches can have can have consequence in steep terrain. Look for cornices, pillow drifts, and a chalky or wavy look and feel to surface snow as clues to where wind slabs exist. 

Avalanche Discussion

The last storm delivered 3-5" of snow, location depending,  in the last 24 hours. Southerly and westerly winds moved snow around and created pockets of wind slab on northerly and easterly aspects. 

Avalanche activity was observed in wind transported snow on Friday. A size D1 slab was triggered by a skier on a NE aspect near treeline (see picture below). A small skier triggered wind slab was also reported from Kwolh Butte on a north aspect (reported on Friday but occured on Thursday 01/07).

No active weak layers below the recent storm snow have been reported. 

Although not widespread, cornices have been observed at ridgetops and may be hanging over easterly and northerly facing slopes. Be cautious when apporoaching ridgetops and avoid walking out on a cornice as they can break under the weight of a person.

Regions covered