Mt Hood

There may be some shallow storm and wind slab above treeline Sunday. Any new snow that does fall will be susceptible to sunbreaks later Sunday afternoon, so use extra caution on steeper solar slopes near and above treeline. 

A frontal system will bring renewed light rain and snow to the Mt Hood area Sunday followed by showers Sunday afternoon. Increasing southwest ridge top winds may build new wind slabs on lee slopes, mainly northerly to easterly facing near and above treeline. 

Any new snow that does fall will be susceptible to sunbreaks later Sunday afternoon, so use extra caution on steeper solar slopes above treeline. 

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow to cause an avalanche danger.

After roughly two inches of mainly rain fell at Mt. Hood on Saturday March 14th, only a few inches of snow accumulated above 6000 feet last Sunday and Tuesday. No new avalanches or layers of concern have been reported during an otherwise benign and generally mild week of weather.   

A front Friday night and a few showers early Saturday deposited about a few inches of new snow, with a little greater amounts near and above 6600 feet at Mt Hood Meadows as reported by the pro patrol Saturday. The new snow and winds did build some stiff wind slab on NE aspects, mainly about 4-6 inches but up to 1 foot in places. These very stiff slabs were unreactive to ski cutting as the new snow fell on old wet snow and formed a good bond and thus were resistant to triggers.