Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Storm and Wind slabs up to 24" thick are sitting on a variety of old snow surfaces, some of which are weak sliding layers.   The weak layers are not consistent over terrain.  While some slopes may check out, others may surprise you.   We've all been waiting for this new snow... but Sunday will be a day to stay vigilant, avoid wind loaded slopes, steep convex rolls and avoid commiting yourself to skiing above terrain traps such as rocks, trees, cliffs, and gullies.  If you are unsure about the stability of the snowpack, stick to slopes less than 30 degrees steep to minimize your exposure to avalanches.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Light cold snow that's easily transported with continued West winds will keep Windslabs at the forefront of our avalanche problems.  You will find wind loaded slopes at ridge tops, below cornices, and cross loaded on slopes that sit sideways to the wind.   Remember that burnt trees don't slow the wind down, so some of our burnt forest can act like "above treeline terrain"   It is a bit difficult to judge the depth of new windslabs beacuse they are mixed in with the new storm snow.  

  • Storm Slabs

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

    We have recieved 12 - 16" of snow across most of our terrain.  This new snow has formed a cohesive slab over a variety of old snow surfaces.  These old snow surfaces range from ice, to melt freeze crusts, to weak faceted sugary snow.   This weak faceted snow is inconsistent, most likley found near tree line on NE through NW slopes.  Snowpack tests on Saturday showed very poor results in some areas, and strong results in areas not far away.  This mixed bag of results has not given me great confidence in understanding where in the terrain is safe and where its not.  I'll treat it all with a bit of caution.  

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