Avalanche Forecast

A weak short wave in a weak west flow is moving over the Northwest Thursday and Thursday night. Another weak short wave in a northwest flow will move over the Northwest on Friday. This may cause some light showers at Mt Hood late Thursday and Friday.

The light amounts of rain or snow Thursday to Friday should not significantly change snow conditions at Mt Hood.

As a result of the overall low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation.

A benign weather pattern with mild temperatures has been seen in the Olympics and Cascades for about the past 10 days.

There has been a lot of consolidation and melting and freezing of surface layers of the snow pack in all areas including at Mt Hood. There were some reports of small loose wet avalanches on steep solar slopes a few days ago. But there have been no reports of avalanches more recently mainly just some reports of spring-like corn skiing at times.

The Meadows pro-patrol reports firm surface snow this morning and melt-freeze cycle the past few days. Overall 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.