Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
The snowpack is strong and well consolidated after a week of mild dry weather. Watch for wet surface snow conditions on some steep sun exposed slopes, especially below rocks or cliffs and above terrain traps where even small slides could be dangerous.
Detailed Forecast
More of the same conditions are expected Monday. Mostly sunny and warm with light winds at higher elevations and cold and cloudy conditions in the lower passes and some low elevations.Â
At the higher terrain Sunday, temperatures reached the low-mid 50's with similar conditions expected Monday.
Surface melt-freeze crusts are forming overnight on some solar exposed slopes and softening through the day. Loose wet avalanches are unlikely, but might be encountered in isolated steep solar exposed slopes below rocks or trees absorbing more radiation. Â
The nice riding and skiing conditions found Sunday should remain on Monday as little change in the snowpack structure is expected.Â
Early season terrain hazards still exist, such as poorly covered rocks, vegetation and creeks, particularly at lower elevations.
Snowpack Discussion
High pressure has now been over the region for a full week. Sunshine and very mild temperatures have been the story with cooler temperatures at lower elevations. This weather has allowed for overall strengthening and consolidation of an already strong snowpack.
No triggered avalanches have been reported over the past five days.
Some small loose wet slides have occurred on mainly steep sun exposed slopes through the week, but have become less frequent over the past several days.
Wind slabs formed a week ago continue to bond and strengthen, but may still persist, mainly above treeline on mostly westerly to northerly facing terrain, especially below ridges. These slabs should be more reluctant to trigger as they continue to bond and strengthen.Â
The surface snow consists mainly of surface melt freeze crusts forming overnight on solar aspects. On shaded aspects, settled storm snow is still providing some nice skiing and riding conditions. Â
The total snowpack height in these zones varies mostly from 2-4 feet with the most at higher elevations.
The snowpack is well consolidated and strong with settled old storm snow of about 1-2Â feet over the strong Thanksgiving rain crust.Â
Observations
By Thursday and Friday the Mt Hood Meadows pro-patrol had little to report with just some shedding off rocks and trees in the sun and no other activity and snow consolidating on non-solar slopes.
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: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1