Avalanche forecast

Newberry

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanches will remain unlikely for Sunday in the Newberry Monument. On sunny, steep slopes you could encounter small slides later in the day. Pay attention to snow becoming slushy from prolongued sun exposure to better understand where these isolated instabilities may exist. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Multiple days of warm temps and cooler overnight lows, combined with the general low snow depth on solar slopes in the Newberry area, all adds up to this problem being unlikely for Sunday. That being said, we can't ignore the temperature highs and clear sunny skies we are seeing. Isolated steep slopes that have received prolongued sun exposure are where we could see some small wet loose avalanches in the afternoon. If you are riding on solar slopes (SE-SW), monitor terrain for active roller balling, pinwheeling, and any natural avalanche activity. If you notice these warning signs or are experiencing slushy snow penetration above your boot tops, recognize that you should back down and seek shadier slopes. Even small slides that only knock you off your feet can have high consequence in the presence of terrain traps such as cliffs and trees- two things that are widespread in the Newberry zone.

    (1/17/2026)

    Small rollerballs on SE slope around noon.

    Photo: Ryan Marvin

Avalanche Discussion

Despite it being over a week since new snow and sustained warm temperatures, shaded open slopes in the Newberry zone are still currently holding cold dry snow, with Surface Hoar and Near Surface Facets observed in these areas. These "persistent" snow grains result in good riding when they are at the surface, but are worth monitoring going forward in case this weak snow gets buried under new snow- a potentially dangerous combination.

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