Avalanche forecast

Newberry

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Triggering avalanches will be likely in wind drifted snow and possible in recent storm snow. Avalanches have the potential to be large and can be triggered on slopes where the wind has not stripped the new snow away. It will be best to avoid slopes where wind blown snow has accumulated especially in areas with large pillow drifts in steep terrain. Recognize where terrain traps such as rocks, trees, cliffs, and constricted features are in relation to where you are travelling; this type of terrain can greatly increase the consequence of getting caught in an avalanche. If you are unsure about the stability of the snowpack, stick to slopes less than 30 degrees steep to minimize your exposure to avalanches.  

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    On Saturday, I found wind slabs to be easy to trigger on small test slopes on east and northeast aspects at upper elevations where the wind was moving snow around and creating drifts. On other similar nearby slopes, I could not get anything to trigger. That is the tricky nature of wind slabs; some slopes are reactive while others are not.

    I observed blowing snow in wind exposed areas throughout the day and wind slabs will continue to build. Keep this problem in mind for Sunday and remember you can avoid wind slabs by sticking to more wind sheltered areas or by riding on low angle terrain less than 30 degrees steep.

    Wind slabs on top of old weak snow layers (sugary faceted snow) may break out wider and run farther that usual.

    Wind slabs can build anywhere there is blowing snow.....keep an eye on those open clearings around lava flows and sparse trees even at low elevations where wind drifted snow can accumulate. 

    (2/1/2025)

    Very small skier triggered avalanche on an east facing slope at 7840'. This slope was accumulating blowing snow coming through the sparse trees. It was a small slope and therefore a small avalanche. Bigger slopes have the potential for much larger wind slab avalanches.

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

  • Storm Slabs

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

    On Saturday, at the upper elevations I found about 15 inches of new snow. On northerly slopes this new snow was overlying weak faceted sugary snow. This buried weak layer may extend out to the western and east facing slopes. I was not able to initiate any cracking or avalanches on this weak layer, but I did get some snow pack testing results indicating that avalanches can happen at the new snow/old snow interface.  Avalanches intiating on old weak snow will have the chance to propagate wider and run farther than usual. 

    Steep, convex, and unsupported features are the places where you are more likely to trigger a storm slab avalanche. 

     

    (2/1/2025)

    Weak and sugary faceted snow beneath the recent storm snow. This weak layer is about 15" below the surface. This is from a north facing slope at 7740'.

    Photo: Aaron Hartz

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