Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
Low avalanche danger is expected in all elevation bands on Wednesday, although isolated and small loose wet avalanches remain possible on steeper solar slopes.
Detailed Forecast
A weak front will approach the area on Wednesday with an increase in high clouds beginning overnight. There should be a gradual cooling trend through the day, but an increase in clouds overnight and warm temperatures could inhibit a good re-freeze.
On Wednesday, small loose wet avalanches will be unlikely and only potentially found in isolated areas near and below treeline.Â
As a result of the overall low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation.
Snowpack Discussion
Warm and wet southwest flow directed a series of fronts across the Northwest from about February 5th-10th.This brought less rain to Mt. Hood compared to areas in the WA Cascades but aided in further snowpack melt at lower elevations. The last weather system in the series crossed the south Cascades a week ago. This caused strong winds and deposited 15 inches of new snow at 6600 feet at Mt Hood Meadows. Warmer temperatures at Mt Hood over the last week have allowed the most recent storm snow to settle and stabilize.Â
NWAC pro-observer CJ Svela was at Timberline on Friday and found possible small loose wet avalanche conditions on solar slopes. He also found stable melt forms and rounded grains in the upper snowpack.Â
The Meadows pro-patrol reported a good refreeze of surface snow Monday and Tuesday morning along with no recent avalanche activity.
The mid and lower snowpack at Mt Hood should consist of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.
Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.
Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1