Avalanche Forecast

Cold temperatures with light snow showers Tuesday will not significantly improve the current avalanche danger, allowing recent slabs to persist longer than usual. 

Due to previous shifting winds, avoid steep wind loaded terrain especially near and above treeline on all aspects. Wind sculpted features, cracks in the snow, pillows, cornices, and variable height of recent snow are all indicators that you could trigger a new or old Wind Slab avalanche. 

Loose-Dry avalanches are possible on very steep slopes. With over 2 feet of new snow, they will entrain recent low density snowfall and could become problematic around terrain traps. 

Winds abated Sunday afternoon and Monday but cold temperatures persisted, slowing the stabilization process of recent slabs.

Over 2 feet of snow has been received since Saturday along with much colder temperatures. 

The strong storm system that preceded the colder weather brought heavy precipitation in the form of snow, ice and rain to Mt. Hood Saturday along with moderate winds increasing to strong and gusty winds in the afternoon (WSW gusts 40-70 mph were common at the lower NWAC wind sites!). The rain-line reached near 6000 feet Saturday mid-day before cooling ensued.  

Prior to this system, 12-18 inches of storm snow fell late last week and sits on a strong firm crust layer formed earlier in the month. There are no significant layers of concern in the mid and lower snowpack.

Observations

On Monday, Mt Hood Meadows patrol traveled into the above treeline area for the first time since the strong storm cycle. Surprisingly, finding a lack of wind slabs in terrain usually laden with wind slabs. The very cold temperatures may have limited slab formation in this area. However, given the strength of the winds, reactive wind slabs are not being ruled out above treeline. 

On Sunday, Mt. Hood Meadow reported generally soft storm or wind slab avalanches breaking within the new storm snow. Despite significant winds occurring mid-day near treeline, the usual firmer wind slabs present on Mt. Hood were not observed. No observations were available above treeline. 

On Saturday morning, a new rain or freezing rain crust was noted up to 6600 ft. Rime ice had covered most surfaces. Strong winds prevented observations later in the day.