Latest news with #DallasGlass
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Experts give tips for avalanche safety following tragedy in the Oregon Cascades
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Seven people in Oregon and 23 people in Washington have died of avalanches in the last 10 years, . Although avalanches can be sudden and unpredictable, 90% of avalanche incidents are triggered by people, according to the National Weather Service. Because avalanches are often caused by humans, there are some precautions people can take to avoid getting caught in the potentially deadly flows of snow, ice and debris. Bend couple identified as victims of Central Oregon avalanche Dallas Glass, the Deputy Director and Avalanche Forecaster for the Northwest Avalanche Center, told KOIN 6 there are two main keys to avoiding avalanches: Checking the forecast and receiving proper training before heading into avalanche zones. Avalanche centers around the U.S. issue daily avalanche forecasts. These forecasts specify what regions are at risk of avalanches and how likely they are to occur. The avalanche warning scale has five tiers: Low, Moderate, Considerable, High and Extreme. 'Each one of these levels of danger is significantly more dangerous than the one before it,' Glass said. Avalanche danger was at Level 3 (Considerable) in Oregon's central Cascades when a Bend couple was tragically killed in an avalanche on Feb. 17, east of Broken Top. Historically, the highest number of avalanche deaths have occurred when conditions are at the Level 3 stage, when avalanche hazards are less obvious, states. 'Under [Level 3] danger, natural avalanches are possible and human-triggered slides are likely,' the website reads. 'Avalanche conditions are considered dangerous and careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making are essential. Small avalanches can occur in many areas, large avalanches in specific areas, and very large avalanches in isolated areas.' Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Manager Nathan Garibay told KOIN 6 News that telling people where you're going and what time you'll be back is also an important part of avalanche safety. 'I would say, in this case, the couple did everything right,' Garibay said. '[People] noticed that they were missing … people knew what general area they were going to be in. Unfortunately, that didn't change the outcome of this tragic situation.' Strong atmospheric river to impact Portland area this weekend Another important step for avoiding avalanche danger is education, Glass said. offers free 90-minute avalanche training classes through Zoom and in person. NWAC also offers . 'One: Get the forecast. Two: get the training,' Glass said. '… Free 90-minute classes are a great way to start.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Much of region in ‘considerable' avalanche risk, experts urge you to stay alert
Avalanche experts are urging people to stay alert after two backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche in Oregon this week. The incident happened in an area west of Bend on Monday. Experts are warning Washingtonians that there is avalanche risk in our region as well. Forecasters monitor and constantly adjust avalanche forecasts in our area. These are forecasts you should be checking before heading out in the snow. 'Just like you would check the weather before you would go out for a hike or go to go ski, you should make it a habit if you're going to play in the snow in the winter to also check that avalanche forecast,' said Dallas Glass, Deputy Director Avalanche Forecaster at the Northwest Avalanche Center. You can check our local forecast here. Forecasters use a one to five scale to gauge risk. On Wednesday, much of our region was listed in level three, which means there is considerable avalanche danger. It means that anyone heading out on snow-covered covered mountains should conduct careful snowpack evaluation, perform cautious route-finding and make conservative decisions. 'When you add really steep mountains and a lot of snow together, you oftentimes get a lot of avalanches, and we do see that often,' Glass said. Data from the Northwest Avalanche Center shows somewhere between two and three people die each year in Washington from avalanches. Experts say our risk goes up during big storms and could rise in the coming days as we enter a storm track. To stay safe, ensure you're carrying the right gear. Everyone in your group should have an avalanche transceiver (or beacon), an avalanche probe and an avalanche shovel. 'If you're buried in an avalanche and you don't have that gear, it is literally the proverbial needle in a haystack,' Glass said. There are also avalanche courses you can take to better your awareness and preparation.
