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RegisterMar 16th, 2018–Mar 17th, 2018
Mt Hood.
The avalanche hazard will be limited Saturday by cool and cloudy conditions on Mt Hood. You may find isolated wind slabs on lee slopes at higher elevations where older deeper wind slabs linger and new shallow winds slabs may form. Stay off of any slope above treeline where you think recent wind loading has occurred.
Use caution around steep wind loaded slopes at higher elevations Saturday where you could trigger a wind slab. Use visual clues such as blowing snow, fresh cornices, and snow drifts to identify and avoid wind loaded slopes. You will most likely to trigger a wind slab on convex roll overs, unsupported slopes, or on cross-loaded features.
In other locations, generally safe avalanche conditions exist. Cloudy skies, cool temperatures, and light showers will limit the avalanche hazard in the Mt Hood area. Keep an eye out for signs of unstable snow such as blowing snow, shooting cracks, or sunshine affecting fresh snow. If you encounter these conditions, avoid areas where avalanches can start.
Several inches of new snow has accumulated in the cool showery pattern over the last several days. Above treeline, shallow and isolated wind slabs formed early last week. The most recent snow sits atop a melt-freeze crust.
Several melt-freeze cycles last weekend helped to consolidate and strengthen the snowpack. No recent avalanche activity has been reported at Mt. Hood.
While we are tracking several layers deeper in the snowpack, there are currently no significant layers of concern.
Observations
On Friday, Pro-observer Laura Green found 2-4" of new snow near Timberline well bonded to the underlying crust. Poor visibility limited observations above treeline.
On Wednesday, Mt. Hood Meadows Pro-Patrol reported shallow wind slabs less than 1 ft deep triggered by explosives on N-NE aspects near and above treeline.