Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

Avalanche danger on Monday will vary dramatically depending upon elevation and how much rain we get.  Above treeline Wind Slab avalanches will be possible on Northeast and East slopes.  Slopes below 7,500 ft. will likely see some rain by late afternoon and evening.  This rain could lead to Wet Loose, and even possibly a few Wet Slab avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Sunday's new snow and Moderate Southwest winds built Wind Slabs on Northeast slopes at and above treeline.  While these Wind Slabs will begin to stabilize overnight, I expect it will still be possible to trigger an avalanche in this terrain on Monday.  Evaluate how sensitive Wind Slabs could be with hand shears, pole probing and skin track tests on safe slopes less than 30 degrees.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Rain is forecast later in the day for slopes below 7,500 ft.  Hopefully, it'll hold off until the ski day is done(?) but slopes that receive rain are likely to produce Wet Loose avalanches.  Avoid avalanche terrain if there is substantial rainfall.

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    If we receive substantial rainfall, Sunday's Storm Slabs and Wind Slabs could transition into Wet Slabs.  This will take considerable rainfall, and I expect any Wet Slabs would occurr very late in the day on Monday.

Avalanche Discussion

15 - 25 cm. of snow fell overnight Saturday and into Sunday.  Likely most folks were avoiding upper elevation terrain, but there were reports of multiple D1 avalanches below treeline  (see the picture below).  Some of these were failing within the new storm snow, while others failed above the prominent rain crust.

Regions covered