Lawinenlagebericht

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
Auf der Karte ansehen

Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
4 · Gross
Waldgrenze
4 · Gross
Unterhalb
3 · Erheblich
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

You can trigger a large, deadly avalanche on wind loaded slopes Saturday.  Avoid traveling on and under all slopes greater than 35 degrees at mid and upper elevations.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Very Likely
    Größe
    1–2.5

    New snow and strong southwest winds will combine to build fresh slabs of wind drifted snow at mid and upper elevations.  These slabs may grow quite large  (2-4 ft deep)   and may even fail naturally.  You will be able to trigger the largest wind slab avalanche at mid and upper elevations, specifically on the lee sides of ridges and on steep, open slopes in the alpine.  These areas of wind drifted snow may be especially touchy if they are forming over a layer of buried surface hoar or near-surface facets.  

    The red flags will be in your face from the parking lot on Saturday.  If you notice wind drifting snow, expect wind slabs to be developing on adjacent slopes. 

    (4/5/2022)

    A crisp cornice like this often will indicate a wind loaded  slope directly underneath. 

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Significant new snow ( 1.50 + swe)  will create reactive storm slabs below and near treeline.  Expect these storm slabs to be most reactive in the early morning hours corresponding with the heavy periods of precipitation. Steer around terrain if you observe test slopes sliding easily, cracking within the new snow, or notice hard over soft layering.  Many of these more sheltered locations held surface hoar or near-surface facets, so these slabs of snow may easily fail on this layer.  While snow pits may help you locate this layer, they can not prove its absence.  Consider giving all steep open slopes a wind berth until we see how this buried weak layer responds to the new storm load.  

Avalanche Discussion

Leading up to this storm, many areas below and near treeline developed weak surface snow (surface hoar and near- surface facets) due to recent cold and clear nights.  On Friday, my partner and I went hunting for surface hoar and were easily able to locate it in most locations we dug ( View the forecast photos for more details).  It was reactive in tests and we noticed shooting cracks in areas where it existed.  Another observation from Thursday also pointed at the new snow failing on a ski cut, which correlates with the depth of the recent layer of buried surface hoar.  Until we know more about this layer, take a large step back and avoid steep slopes, specifically at mid and lower elevations. 

What better time is there than now to submit an observation?!  If you get out, please submit an observation on our public observation platform!  These observations play an integral role in producing a quality avalanche forecast, but also help the greater backcountry community.

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