Mt Hood

Cooling temperatures and increasing clouds should help lower the likelihood of triggering wet avalanches. However, still use caution on steep, southerly slopes that held a mushy snowpack in previous days, particularly during periods of rainfall.

Tuesday will feel more like a transition day with increasing clouds, winds, and lowering freezing levels. This combination should help snowpack stability improve and limit wet loose avalanche concerns on most slopes. You’ll still want to keep these wet snow instabilities on your radar if you find yourself punching past your boot-tops in wet heavy snow or if you notice rollerballs releasing under your skis or feet. Refreezing alpine surfaces along the south side may become your bigger hazard on Tuesday. 

While avalanche conditions are generally safe, we have limited information regarding potential persistent weak layers on the north and east sides of the zone. Earlier last week, I found weak structure just above Tilly Jane (observation here), and observations in the same area since have found improving strength. There was also one very large, wide avalanche reported on the Sunshine Route that likely broke during the natural avalanche cycle on the 24th (avalanche observation here). We’re not sure what this avalanche failed on, but these few observations should help you pause and dig before engaging in steep terrain in more far-flung areas further east or north around Mt. Hood.  These weak layers have led to numerous large avalanches just to our north and is listed as a peristent slab avalanche problem.