Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches will be unlikely on Saturday. Weak snow exists in the upper snowpack, especially on northerly facing slopes at the upper elevations. Monitor slopes for signs of unstable snow and consider consequences of avalanches in steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    This is a new problem to the forecast. There are multiple layers of weak snow in the upper pack (top 12 - 20") and primarily on northerly facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations.  We are still gathering information on the distribution of this problem. Initiating a persistent slab avalanche is very low likelihood until we get a substantial load of new snow, but something to keep in mind. Use your observation/pit digging skills to investigate where these weak layers may be lurking. 

    (12/29/2023)

    Extended column test on a NNE slope at 7870'. Propagation occured on a layer of rounding facets down 12". Initiating an avalanche on this layer is unlikely until future storms add more load to the snowpack. 

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

Regions covered