Avalanche forecast

Newberry

Central Oregon Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

It will be possible to trigger an avalanche in wind drifted snow on Saturday.  Watch for deeper pockets of wind deposited snow near the peaks, and along the lava flows.  Recent cornice growth, and smooth snow textures are the textbook signs of recent wind loading.  Scoured, shallow snow on slopes facing the wind are also a good clue that the wind has been moving snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Dry

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

    On Friday I observed Moderate blowing snow along the eastern edges of the Big Obsidian Flow.  Cornices were growing and old tracks were being covered.  Around noon, the wind slabs that I found were only 4 inches deep, but they will continue to grow, and could be larger in other areas.  I also observed one pretty large (D1.5 or 2) Wind Slab avalanche from mid-week near the observation point below the "Hell Hole" (approx. 6480 ft. East).

    It is unusual for us to forecast Wind Slabs on all aspects, and similarly it is unusual to see wind blown snow below treeline.  Given the variable winds (Moderate from the Southeast on Thursday, and then Moderate from the West on Friday) I am putting them on all aspects.  Because Newberry Crater has such large open areas below treeline (lakes and lava flows), we often see Wind Slab avalanches adjacent to these open areas.

    I can still find the older faceted snow down about 50 cm.  I haven't found this layer to be particularly weak, nor have I gotten any results in stability tests, but I won't completely rule out a large Wind Slab avalanche stepping down to this older layer of snow.

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