Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
Previous layers will gradually stabilize on Tuesday but wind slab could still be triggered on previous lee slopes. Pay extra attention if you see winds transporting recent snow to new lee slopes.
Detailed Forecast
A weak cold front will cross the Northwest on Tuesday. This should bring northwest winds and cool temperatures but light snow should not reach Mt Hood until Tuesday night.
This weather should bring further gradual stabilizing of layers from late last week and the weekend. Previous wind slab layers from strong winds Saturday could still be triggered on previous lee slopes. Dangerous avalanche conditions are still expected above tree line making cautious route finding and conservative decision-making essential.
 Pay extra attention if you see winds transporting recent snow to new lee slopes.
Snowpack Discussion
An atmospheric river and warm very wet weather was seen last week. About 5-7 inches of rain was seen at Mt Hood. This caused an avalanche cycle, consolidation and stabilizing of the older part of the snowpack.
A stormy pattern with cooling was seen late last week and over the weekend with about 4-5 feet of snowfall at Mt Hood.
The Mt Hood ski area on Sunday reported sensitive explosive releases on most lee slopes up to 6600 feet as travel above that was avoided. Numerous soft slabs ran 100% of the paths and traveled far distances releasing in storm layers. These avalanches were on previously heavily skied paths indicating backcountry areas would likely have significantly deeper slab potential. The Mt Hood Meadows ski area on Monday still reported avalanches of increasing size with increasing elevation. At 6800 feet avalanche control triggered a 3-5 foot hard wind slab on a northeast slope which release on the rain crust from last week. Ski cuts generally gave just isolated 6-8 inch releases. A cool day with little if any new snowfall on Monday will have brought some stabilizing. Terrain anchors have been somewhat buried by recent snowfall but will still add significant anchoring below about 5000 feet.Â
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..
Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.
Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1