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 on specific slopes on Saturday.  On North slopes, isolated pockets of wind blown snow remain from the last week.  Avalanches could be triggered on these slopes in this more cohesive snow.  Warm temperatures and possible sun breaks may melt the snow on steep, South slopes enough to produce small Wet Loose avalanches.  If the wet, slushy snow is getting deep, avoid steep slopes and terrain traps.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    On Friday, I found an isolated pocket of hard wind slab on a North face at 7400 ft.  The wind slab overlaid multiple weak layers including a layer of hail down 20 cm. and a layer of weak facets over the prominent melt-freeze crust (down 35 cm.).  The wind over the last few days has varied and most recently transported snow from the East.  Be wary of cross loading in gully features and behind ridges on the steep, North faces.

    I expect this problem to be isolated in the terrain, and the wind slabs that I observed were pretty obvious.

  • Loose Wet

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

    Slopes that see sunshine have gone through one or two melt-freeze cycles.  I observed some minimal rollerballs on Friday morning, but no significant Wet Loose avalanches.  On Saturday, temperatures are forecast to be nearly 10 degrees warmer.  That being said, it will also be cloudier.  The extent of Wet Loose avalanche activity will depend on how much sun we get.  I expect Wet Loose avalanches to be small, but even small avalanches can be significant if they knock you off your feet in steep terrain, and when terrain traps like cliffs are present.

Regions covered