Forecasts

Avalanche forecast

Central Cascades daily and Newberry on weekends, December 1 – April 30. Ratings appear here exactly as COAC publishes them.

Avalanche danger today

COAC's zones and the neighbouring avalanche centers. Tap a zone for its full forecast.

Open the 3D map

1 Low
2 Moderate
3 Considerable
4 High
5 Extreme
No rating in force
Demo forecast (not real)

Demo: hatched zones show a made-up forecast for this demo site, not a real rating. Today's real forecast.

Central Oregon Avalanche Center

Central Cascades2 · ModerateDemoUntil Wed, Oct 21, 9:00 PM PDT · varies by elevation
NewberryNo ratingDemoNot a danger rating

Each zone shows the highest danger rating its center published for today, exactly as published; ratings often differ by elevation, so read the full forecast. Grey means no rating is in force (expired, off season or not issued) — it is not a rating. Tap a zone for its center's forecast. Zone outlines are simplified. Avalanche forecast data: avalanche.org Avalanche Forecast Platform, National Avalanche Center.

Central CascadesNewberry

Central CascadesAvalanche forecast

Issued Tue, Oct 20, 9:00 PM PDTExpires Wed, Oct 21, 9:00 PM PDTForecaster: Gabriel ColerCentral Oregon Avalanche Center

Read the full forecast from Central Oregon Avalanche Center

Example forecast — not today's

This is Central Oregon Avalanche Center's real forecast from Monday, January 5, 2026: ratings, problems and text exactly as published, shown with today's dates so you can see the site in season. It is not today's forecast. Today's real forecast

Highest rating todayModerate

Elevation	Today	Tomorrow (outlook)
Above treeline	2 · Moderate	2 · Moderate
Near treeline	2 · Moderate	2 · Moderate
Below treeline	1 · Low	1 · Low

Bottom line

Don't let the end of recent snowfall and decreasing wind speeds fool you. On Monday, it will still be possible to trigger the Wind Slabs that were created on Saturday night and Sunday. Avalanches are possible anywhere that the wind has blown in our most recent snow (we see the most blowing snow near and above the treeline, where the wind blows freely). These avalanches could be big enough to bury or injure a rider.

Avalanche problems

Centre = above treeline · outer ring = below treeline

Wind Slab

Likelihood

UnlikelyPossibleLikelyVery likelyAlmost certain

Size

SmallLargeVery largeHistoric

Today I was finding 12-14 cm of new storm snow. Blowing snow was obvious near treeline and above. We often cite the observation that wind blown snow can be 3-5 times as deep as the snow that has fallen from the sky. Simple pole probing is a great tool right now. At all but the highest elevations, our new snow overlays a rain crust. This crust is easy to find and is a useful tool to see how much snow has blown onto slopes, and how big a potential Wind Slab avalanche could be.

About wind slab avalanches

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

NewberryAvalanche forecast

Issued Tue, Oct 20, 7:47 PM PDTExpires Sun, Oct 25, 10:00 PM PDTCentral Oregon Avalanche Center

Read the full forecast from Central Oregon Avalanche Center

No rating

There is no danger rating in force. It is not a danger rating of any level — check the official forecast before you go.

The forecast marked demo was made up for this demo site and was not published by the center. Ratings, problems and discussion are shown exactly as published by the issuing center and turn grey when they expire. Problem roses show where each problem is, not separate ratings. Avalanche forecast data: avalanche.org Avalanche Forecast Platform, National Avalanche Center.

Mountain weather

Station	Snow depth	Snow water	Air temp	Reading	Last 3 days
Three Creeks Meadow5,680 ft	—	0.0 in	58°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
Irish Taylor5,540 ft	0 in	0.1 in	55°F	2 h ago	−1 in in 24 h
Cascade Summit5,100 ft	0 in	0.1 in	52°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
Roaring River4,960 ft	0 in	0.3 in	63°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
New Crescent Lake4,910 ft	0 in	—	54°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
Hogg Pass4,800 ft	0 in	0.2 in	61°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
Mckenzie4,770 ft	—	0.1 in	65°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h
Santiam Jct.3,740 ft	0 in	0.1 in	68°F	2 h ago	−1 in in 24 h
Smith Ridge3,270 ft	0 in	0.1 in	72°F	2 h ago	−1 in in 24 h
Marion Forks2,590 ft	0 in	0.0 in	51°F	2 h ago	no change in 24 h

Snow depthAir temperatureLast 3 days, as each station reported them

Latest automated readings, shown with their age; old readings are greyed. Station data: USDA NRCS National Water and Climate Center (SNOTEL)

Danger scale

North American Avalanche Danger Scale

Five levels, rated for each elevation band.

1Low
2Moderate
3Considerable
4High
5Extreme

Read what each level means on the official scale

Off season? See a real winter forecast.

COAC's actual forecast from Monday, January 5, 2026 — danger by elevation, the wind slab problem and the forecaster's discussion — with a day of sample field reports.

See the example day