Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Wind slabs created in the last 24 hours will be lingering and are still possible to trigger. There is still snow available for transport; although the wind is expected to be light, watch for blowing snow continuing to form  wind slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

     

    Wind slabs were actively building on Friday and may continue to build into Saturday.  Blowing snow at ridge tops was observed throughout the day on Friday and there is a lot of soft snow available for transport. Look for visual signs of wind drifted snow and changes in density in the surface snow as clues to what slopes are wind loaded. If you observe cracking on rollovers or small test slopes, be cautious of wind loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Avalanche Discussion

Friday brought an unexpected amount of new snow to the region. The day finished with  20-25 cm (8-10") of new snow in the mountains. The new snow is sitting on a hard rain crust that was formed over a week ago. There are some reports of rounding facets under the rain crust and near crust facets above the crust; we will continue to monitor these. Observations from Friday, suggest the new snow is beginning to stick to the crust. 

Wind drifted snow was observed up to 50 cm deep on some lee slopes.

As the new snow settles, the recent storm snow will gain cohesion and any potential for loose dry avalanches will subside. 

Small skier triggered loose dry avalanches were reported on Friday on east slopes near treeline. A very small skier triggered wind slab avalanche was reported on a south aspect near treeline.

Regions covered