Avalanche Forecast

Mostly cloudy and cool Wednesday with an increasing chance of light showers, mainly after daylight hours.  

As a result of further cooling and cloud cover, little threat of avalanches is expected. 

The isolated shallow wind slab that may have formed over the weekend above treeline, on non-traditional westerly to southerly aspects, may persist on specific terrain features.

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow (new or existing) to pose an avalanche hazard. 

Since the wet start to February, fair weather through mid-February has led to generally thick surface crusts, as well as further deterioration of the snow cover below treeline.

A few weak weather disturbances passed through in NW flow aloft Thursday and Friday, bringing an inch or two of new snow near and above treeline for Mt. Hood. 

On Saturday, NWAC observer C.J. Svela was on the south side of Mt. Hood traveling in the near and above tree-line zones above Timberline. He found an overall low avalanche hazard, a firm surface on the upper mountain, and the solar effects limited by moderate NE winds. 

Mt. Hood Meadows reported early Sunday morning that although E-NE winds were strong, there was minimal snow available for transport even on the upper mountain and no increased danger from avalanches was seen. 

The mid and lower snowpack at Mt Hood snow consist of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.