Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The high peaks have been getting a lot of new snow.  At alpine elevations, avalanches are likely and could be large on any slopes where the wind has blown this new snow.  We may also see avalanches in wind blown snow near treeline.  These avalanches will be limited to the snow that falls on Tuesday night and as a result will generally be shallower than their alpine counterparts.  As temperatures drop below freezing, the Wet avalanche activity that we saw on Tuesday should taper off.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Alpine elevations likely picked up a lot of new snow on Monday night and Tuesday.  At these highest elevations Wind Slab avalanches could be large.  Be very cautious if you are venturing into alpine terrain.

    On Tuesday it rained up to treeline in most places.  New snow on Tuesday night will build new Wind Slabs.  Although avalanches are unlikely to fail in the older wet snow from Tuesday, it is not impossible.  Use low angle or smaller slopes to evaluate the layering and stability of potentially wind loaded slopes.

  • Cornices

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

    After so much new snow and some rain, it is a good day to give cornices an extra margin of safety.  If large cornices or chunks of cornice fall, they could trigger secondary avalanches on the slopes below.

Avalanche Discussion

Lots of new snow and rain on Tuesday led to avalanche activity.  Cooling temperatures overnight should hamper avalanche activity at lower elevations.  Alpine slopes have been getting steady snowfall for days.  Avalanches could be large and anyone venturing up high, should start by "dipping their toe in the water" first.

Our field team will continue looking for the isolated weak layers that we've been finding in the upper and mid-pack.  Before this latest storm we would occasionally find some broken buried surface hoar down 50 cm. and some near crust facets above the 2/8 rain crust.  As we put some time between us and this latest storm, I suspect these layers will be even less of a concern.

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