Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering avalanches in recently wind drifted snow will be possible near treeline and above treeline. Triggering wet snow avalanches are possible at all elevations, especially on slopes in the direct sun during the warmest time of the day. Avalanches have the potential to be large. Minimize your exposure to all avalanches by sticking to lower angle terrain less than 30 degrees steep. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The snow has stopped falling and the winds are expected to back off, but this problem needs more time before we write it off. Wind slabs were still forming Thursday afternoon. They do become less reactive with time, but it is still possible to trigger a wind slab on Friday.  The distribution may be spotty, so it is your job to evaluate where wind slabs are lurking. Some pieces of terrain may have received very little wind loading while other nearby slopes have significant slabs.

    Below ridges and  high points are common places where wind slabs form. Be on the lookout for crossloaded slopes, where blowing snow moved across a slope and filled in gully features and depressions. Utilize low angle terrain or small test slopes to check depth and reactivity of wind slabs. If you see cracking in the slab or recent avalanches, these are good indicators of unstable snow.

    Open slopes below treeline may also have wind slabs. Areas of dead or sparse trees, exposed ridges, and clearings can have enough of a wind effect to get wind slab formation. 

    (4/2/2026)

    Shooting cracks were a common sight on Thursday. The easterly aspects were wind loaded. I observed many cracks in the wind slab as I stepped out to convex rolls. This was near treeline on a northeast aspect.

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

  • Loose Wet

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

    There will be timing involved with this problem. As the day heats up and slopes are exposed to the sun's energy, wet snow avalanches have the potential to come into play.  There is an abundance of recent snow on the surface that can heat up and lose cohesion. This problem will be more prominent  on steep slopes in the direct sun. Keep an eye on changing surface condtions. As the surface snow begins to feel wet or mucky, if you see rollerballs or pinwheels, or if you see recent wet snow avalanches, recongize these as signs this problem is in play. When you see these signs, consider moving to more shaded slopes or lower angle terrain.

    Wet slab avalanches are also possible, share the same distribution and can also be large. 

    Archive Photo: Ryan Marvin

    Rollerballs on a steep sun exposed slope.

Avalanche Discussion

I am taking storm slab off the problem list but it is still something to keep in mind if you are going into steep terrain on any slope where the recent snow was not moved away by the wind. Steep, convex, and unsupported terrain are the places where storm slabs tend to be triggered.

Recently formed cornices will be fragile and easily broken. Avoid stepping out onto a cornice. They can break under the weight of a person and can lead to a fall onto the slope below. Be cautious when approaching ridge tops, especially if you don't have a good vantage to see if a cornice is present or not. Cornice breaks can also trigger wind slab avalanches on lee slopes. 

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