Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Triggering a slab avalanche in wind deposited snow from the last storm will still be possible on Thursday. Although avalanches will become increasingly stubborn to trigger, evaluate wind loaded slopes around lee terrain features carefully. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The last reported wind slab avalanche was on Tuesday. The danger related to wind slab avalanches is decreasing, however let's keep this problem in mind for another day. In some terrain, wind slabs formed over the cold low density snow that came in Monday night and may need a little more time to stabilize. I do not expect avalanches to be large enough to bury a person, but triggering an avalanche on a sustained steep slope or above terrain traps will increase the consequence of going for a ride.

    Wind slabs form in specific terrain where wind blown snow accumulates on lee slopes. Wind slabs typically form below ridgetops and around features that collect blowing snow. Identify visual clues such as pillowy deposits or wavy surface texture to indicate where recent wind slabs have formed.

Avalanche Discussion

On Thursday, high clouds will keep the sun from cooking the snow surface. With a high temperature in the low 30's over most of the forecast zone, I do not expect wet loose avalanches to be a problem on Thursday. At the lowest elevations in the zone, around Santiam Pass, the snow surface may warm up enough to bring on some roller balls, pinwheels, and small wet loose avalanches on slopes that experience prolonged sun exposure. 

Regions covered