Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Sunday is another low danger day. However, "low danger" does not mean "no danger". There is still some buried surface hoar in our snowpack primarily on northern to easterly slopes. Continue to look for signs of instability such as cracking or whumfing, and consider digging into the snow if traveling on steep terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Today at Todd Ridge I found the December 8th buried surface hoar (SH) on NW, NE and east aspects at the top of the ridge. The SH is laying down and degrading. Snow pit tests revealed no propagation in extended column tests. I did not observe any avalanche activity nor did I see any cracking or whumfing. The SH was found 25-60cm down in the snowpack in the Todd Ridge area.

    Persistent slabs can be hard to trigger but can produce large avalanches. This can be a good time to dig in the snowpack and perform column tests in safe terrain.

     

Avalanche Discussion

Overall there has been no recent reports of avalanches this week in our forecasting zone. Due to our recent clear, cold, and calm nights we have new surface hoar near and below treeline. This is something we will continue to track, however it only becomes a problem if it gets burried. 

 

Regions covered