Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
Be aware of heightened avalanche danger in steeper terrain and near terrain traps relating to wet avalanches.
Detailed Forecast
Sunday should be quite warm (freezing levels 12 kft) and mostly sunny. Despite the high freezing levels, a few factors should help tamp down the avalanche danger Sunday; rain will have tapered off Saturday allowing the snowpack to drain, weak solar input, and stiff winds above treeline will all help limit the likelihood of wet avalanches.
Generally avoid steep slopes especially near terrain traps where you might be able to push off enough saturated snow to start an avalanche large enough to take you for a ride.Â
Remember, due to the unseasonably low snowpack especially at lower elevations, numerous terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation are widespread. Â
Snowpack Discussion
Snow on the back end of the last winter storm the previous Sun/Mon was only in the 5-6 inch range at Mt Hood. Since then roughly half an inch to one inch of rain has fallen at NWAC stations on Mt. Hood for the 48 hr period ending 4 am Saturday.
The Meadows patrol reported crusts and melt forms in the upper pack on Wednesday and Thursday with good stability. Some low density snow from the last storm was transported to N-NE slopes near and above treeline. On Saturday, Meadows pro-patrol reported a saturated upper snowpack but little in the way of avalanche activity. Â
The lower snow pack at Mt Hood should also predominately consist of crusts and stabilized rounded grain or melt form layers from warm periods so far 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.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1