Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Highlights

Human triggered and natural triggered wet snow avalanches will be likely on all aspects and at all elevations. This will be a good day to avoid travelling in avalanche terrain and stay out from under avalanche terrain. If you must go out in the rain, stick to slopes less than 30 degrees and avoid runout zones from steep slopes above. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–3

    As rain began falling in the mountains on Friday the upper snowpack became saturated. The snow level will remain high overnight and Saturday bringing rain to all but the highest peaks. We could get up to an inch and a half, or more, of water on the snowpack by midday. The warming and heavy rain will weaken layers and layer boundaries in the pack. We often get our largest natural avalanches during heavy rain events in the winter. Wet slab avalanches have the potential to be very large and destructive. The best way to manage this problem is to avoid avalanche terrain.

  • Cornices

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

    Cornices will become weakened by the warming and rain. Natural cornice breaks will be likely. If you are out in the rain and murk, be cautious when approaching a ridgetop. It can be difficult to identify where cornices are hanging over lee slopes when approaching them from behind. Get a good vantage point to determine if a cornice is present before stepping out. 

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    Weak layers formed formed earlier in the season are now down 140 - 200 cm (or deeper) below the surface. Multiple layers of faceted snow and buried surface hoar are now deep enough where the chance of us triggering an avalanche on these layers is unlikely but not impossible. An avalanche occurring on one of these deep layers would be very destructive. We probably won't get any feedback in the form of collapses or whumphs associated with this problem and with the exception of digging down through the entire snowpack, we may not know if it is under us or not. Increase your margin of safety by avoiding trigger points such as shallow rocky areas in steep terrain. 

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