Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The avalanche danger will rise steadily throughout the day as new snow accumulates.  Avalanches will be possible in wind blown snow at higher elevations, and could be large by the end of the day.  It will be worth evaluating or avoiding North and East facing slopes that lie below ridgelines or anywhere wind blown snow is accumulating.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Most of us are likely used to seeing a Wind Slab avalanche problem associated with stormy weather and snowfall.  With the bulk of new snow falling during the day on Wednseday, wind slabs will build throughout the day in proportion to the new snow we receive.  Wind deposited snow can be 3-5 times as deep as the new snow in sheltered meadows and glades.  By the afternoon, Wind Slabs could be large enough to bury or injure a rider.  The most obvious signs of potential wind slabs are variable snow depths and textures as you travel across aspects (think shallow snow and scoured textures on West slopes, and then deeper snow and smooth textures on East slopes).  Evaluate the depth of newly blown snow by traveling and pole probing on lee slopes that are small or less than 30 degrees.

Avalanche Discussion

We've had a few days of Low Hazard in the Cascades due to a lack of new snow and then recently cloudy skies, which have limited recent melting.  Observers have noted isolated avalanche activity on at least one very steep slope where the snow overlaying the stout rain crust was particularly shallow.  The vast majority of future avalanches will occur in storm snow, but we can't rule out the possibility of avalanches pulling out snow down to this rain crust on isolated slopes.

Regions covered