Lawinenlagebericht

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Mon
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Kernpunkte

Winter won't let go - Strong to extreme winds and additional snowfall will combine for Dangerous avalanche conditions on Sunday.  It will be easy to find and trigger a wind slab, with open slopes below treeline in play.  Avoid traveling on or below steep open slopes at upper elevations where a larger avalanche could be triggered from below or release naturally. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2

    With the winds cranking and more snow forecast to fall through Sunday, you'll need to dial back your terrain selection to stay safe on Sunday.  Large open lee slopes can produce avalanches.  With continuous loading from westerly winds over this storm cycle,  natural avalanches are possible.  Put some space between you and the bottom of consequential slopes, you don't want to trigger an avalanche from connected terrain below.  

    Shallower wind slabs will likely develop on open slopes below treeline.  If you see cracking in the new snow, feel stiff or hollow snow near the surface, or see natural avalanches, these are red flags that you could trigger an avalanche on similar slopes.  You don't want to get raked through steep trees or other terrain traps.  Seek out lower angled and wind-sheltered terrain to avoid triggering an avalanche. 

    In wind-sheltered terrain, you still need to keep your guard up with all of the fresh snow.  With April showers comes the chance of graupel or soft hail.  These are additional inter-storm layers that storm slabs can fail on. Use care on very steep slopes to avoid getting surprised by a small dry loose or storm slab avalanche. 

    The weather alone will make for difficult travel at upper elevations. Commit to a safe return by knowing your route and factoring in for periods of poor visibility and cold temperatures/low wind chills if you venture above treeline Sunday.  Another significant storm will impact the Mt Hood area Sunday night keeping the danger elevated. 

    Expect to find strong/extreme westerly winds blowing snow onto lee slopes and scouring down to the latest April crust. Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

10-14" of new snow piled up Friday night and Saturday with strong persistent West winds moving snow around and scouring exposed ridgelines.  Temperatures plummeted into the lower 20s and teens making for a winter-like day.  Mt Hood Meadows patrol found drifts up to 2' were stubborn to trigger during mitigation, with the new snow generally well bonded to the April 8th crust.  Friday was a transition day as the upper mountain quickly cooled but lower and mid-elevation temperatures took their time to lower.  We are not concerned about deeper layers in the snowpack heading into this storm cycle.

The weather and snow conditions this weekend will feel like a shock coming off of the Spring warmth of Thursday when 5000ft temperatures hit 60F and the strong April sun beat down on Mt Hood. Observers reported a wet and saturated snow surface, lots of rollerballs, but no significant wet loose avalanche cycle through the midweek period.  Several large or very large natural avalanches occurred early last week during a significant winter-like storm, there are several pictures in the photo reel below. 

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