Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
Dangerous avalanche conditions should persist above treeline, where recent wind slabs gradually stabilize. Conservative decision making will be essential Wednesday, especially in higher exposed terrain, as recent wind slabs gradually settle and stabilize. Avoid steep open slopes showing signs of recent wind transport. Best to confine travel to lower angled terrain away from wind effects.
Detailed Forecast
Recent or new wind slabs will remain the main avalanche problems Wednesday in the Mt Hood zone.
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New wind slab is mostly likely to be found on N-SE facing slopes. Stiff wind transported snow and snowpack cracking can be good signs of wind slab slab instabilities.
Cloudy cool conditions Wednesday may limit the possibility of loose wet snow but the sun is gaining power so watch for the possibility of loose wet snow on solar slopes if extended sun breaks occur.Â
The avalanche danger should gradually decrease Wednesday with less wind and slow settlement and stabilization of new snow and fairly cool temperatures.Â
Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack
Storms have moved across the Northwest at a nearly daily frequency the past few weeks with fluctuating but generally moderate snow levels.
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Two deep surface low-pressure systems moved across the Olympic Peninsula with the first passing last Thursday and the next on Sunday. These systems caused very stormy weather. Â
Cool showery weather Monday and Tuesday with continuing moderate westerly winds have deposited additional snow in showers at lower temperatures.
New storm amounts on Mt Hood have been impressive for March, mostly about 18 inches each of the past two days with 2-3.5 feet of storm snow since Thursday!
Strong winds and recent storms have created widespread wind and storm slab problems, creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
The mid and lower snow pack at Mt Hood should generally be a stable mix of crusts and layers of moist and rounded snow crystals.
Recent Observations
The Mt Hood Meadows pro-patrol on Sunday reported stormy conditions with widespread wind and storm slab of 6-12 inches on all aspects in the area, easily triggered by ski cuts and running on the crust buried on Thursday.
On Monday and again Tuesday, control performed by Mt. Hood Meadows pro-patrol produced extensive and sensitive wind and storm slab avalanches triggered by ski cuts in lower elevation slopes and explosives in wind loaded terrain. Avalanches were greatest on N-E facing terrain.Â
Loose wet slides were releasing on solar aspects by Tuesday afternoon below treeline.
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.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
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.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1