Mt Hood

A small storm on Sunday evening won’t be impactful enough to push Mt. Hood out of low danger on Monday. While triggering an avalanche is unlikely, it may not be impossible in alpine terrain that may harbor small, stiff slabs of wind-drifted snow. Stay alert for areas where a small avalanche or slip on very firm snow could have big consequences.  

Sunday evening's precipitation is forecast to be light. If we’re lucky, Mt Hood may see 1-2” of new snow. The more noticeable part of this system is the strong WSW winds that will continue to damage and scour out any new accumulations that try to stick to the mountain. With that, prepare for another very firm start to the day, as the morning will start off cold.

It will be absolutely necessary to have crampons, an ice axe, and the ability to carefully move over firm snow before engaging with any steeper terrain on Monday. If you plan on skiing or riding, carefully assess your timing and aspect before dropping into steeper slopes. There should be some sun softening on steep, sun-exposed slopes during the afternoon hours, but this window may be slow to start and limited during the afternoon hours. Off-timing could allow for a terrifying icy descent and a high chance of a lost ski edge that could lead to a sliding fall. Stay on top of your timing, aspect, and consider the consequences of a slip before climbing or skiing in steep terrain on Monday.

The snowpack has endured a beating and shrunk immensely over the past weeks. Expect a plethora of travel hazards at lower and middle elevations due to historically low snow. 

Are you heading out?  Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.