Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanches will remain likely throughout the terrain.  Avoid steep, open slopes.  Avalanches will be large enough to bury or injure a rider, and could be even more destructive on slopes where the wind has blown in more snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Wind Slabs up to size 2 were reported on Sunday.  Heavy snowfall during the entirety of the weekend, accompanied by Southwest winds, means that Wind Slabs will be likely on North and East slopes below ridgelines, and along crossloaded features.  These Wind Slabs could be very large (it snowed over a meter this weekend) particularly when associated with large triggers like Cornice Collapses or a smaller more recent Wind Slab that may step down to deeper layers.  I'll be avoiding steep slopes near treeline and at alpine elevations that are potentially wind loaded.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    We have received over a meter of snow during the weekend, and that's not counting the snow that fell Thursday night and Friday.  Although the storm snow that I observed on Sunday was pretty light and fluffy, it was still cohesive enough to form a slab.  Numerous hard over weak layers exist within the Storm Snow.  Storm Slab avalanches will be larger than we are used to and easily reach size 2.  Avoid steep, unsupported slopes below treeline.

    (3/15/2025)

    Public Observation of D2 Storm Slab from Saturday 3/15 (North face, 6800 ft.)

Regions covered