Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Large avalanches will be likely at the lower elevations in the forecast zone as the upper snowpack becomes saturated with rain water. It will be best to avoid steep rain soaked slopes. Triggering avalanches in wind drifted snow will be possible near treeline and above treeline. Use carefull evaluation in areas with wind affected snow and/or stick to sheltered or low angle slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow will fall at the mid and upper elevations. Although it will not be a huge dump, remember that wind can pile up snow many times deeper than the storm accumulation. Most wind slab avalanches will be on the small side, but watch for those pieces of terrain that catch a lot of blowing snow. Use your evaluation skills  to check for depth of wind deposits and reactivity of wind slabs before moving into avalanche terrain. Small safe test slopes are a great resource to check for depth of the slab, cracking in surface snow, and small avalanches before venturing into bigger and steeper terrain. As wind deposits become deeper, avalanches can become larger. 

    Use carefull evaluation in areas of sparse trees, clearings, and sections of dead forests. Open areas 'below treeline' can get enough blowing snow to create wind slabs.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    This problem will be limited to the areas that get rain overnight and during the morning hours. The higher elevations of 'below treeline' may not be affected by this problem. The low elevation areas in the forecast zone (i.e. Santiam Pass) could get well over an inch of water by late morning. That much water will make its way into the snow pack and destabilize layers and interfaces leading to potential for wet slab avalanches. If you decide to brave the rain and ride in the wet mucky snow, it will be wise to stick to low angle slopes. This one is easy to identify, if the snowpack is wet and saturated down to boot top depth or more the problem is on. If you do not encounter rain and/or wet saturate snow, then the problem is not there. 

    Wet loose avalanches will also be likely.

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