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RegisterFeb 26th, 2018–Feb 27th, 2018
Mt Hood.
Intense storms over the weekend created dangerous avalanche conditions and very large Wind Slabs avalanches on Mt Hood. Three feet of snow has accumulated since Friday. Avoid obvious wind drifts and deep pillows of snow on leeward and crossloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Conditions have improved but continue to chose terrain carefully as any avalanche release could be deadly.
The avalanche danger Tuesday will continue to gradually decrease with cool temperatures and generally light snow showers expected.
You could still trigger an avalanche Tuesday, but avalanches are becoming more difficult to trigger as the extensive storm and wind slabs deposited last weekend gradually settle and stabilize. Continue to watch for areas that received significant wind loaded snow, such as steep slopes below ridges, mainly facing North to Southeast. Any triggered avalanche could become very large as there is a significant amount of storm snow available to become involved in an avalanche.
The strong storm Sunday produced widespread wind and storm slabs in the Mt Hood area. These large wind and storm slabs will take some extra time to heal and strengthen.
Back country travelers should continue to travel with extra caution and best to travel in shallower angled terrain well away from avalanche paths or runout zones where avalanches release from above.
While avalanche conditions are improving, triggering avalanches remains possible Tuesday.
Older low density snow from last week has been loaded by back to back strong storms over the weekend with about 3 ft of new storm snow accumulating by Sunday evening!
Very strong winds and heavy snowfall intensities since late Friday have built large to very large wind slabs near and above treeline. Storm slabs have built over weaker lower density snow deposited late last week.
Avalanches releasing in the most recent storm snow may step down to older storm layers creating large avalanches.
The deepening storm snow now sits over a strong crust layer formed and buried on Saturday 2/17. This crust has been reported up to 6600 feet by professionals in the region.
The avalanche danger has improved markedly as we move beyond the dangerous avalanche conditions that developed Sunday and unfortunately claimed 3 lives in two separate accidents near Snoqualmie Pass. NWAC field staff traveled to both accident sites to investigate the avalanches in preparation for forthcoming accident reports. Our condolences go to the friends and families of the victims.
Observations
On Monday, evidence of the Sunday storm was in plain view with several very large crowns from natural avalanche releases were visible above Mt Hood Meadows above treeline. Storm slabs were still being triggered near treeline Monday.
Huge natural slab avalanche in Newton Canyon above Mt Hood Meadows releasing Sunday, 2/25. Image, Laura Green
By Sunday morning, MHM professional patrol reported "monumental" snow drifts! These conditions have only become larger by Monday.
MHM professional patrol on Saturday reported white out conditions above treeline with significant wind transport occurring. Below treeline the surface snow was forming unstable storm slabs. Still relatively shallow storm slab avalanches were releasing with explosives Saturday morning.
NWAC pro-observer Laura Green traveled in the Mt Hood backcountry Friday. Laura reported stable conditions prior to Friday’s incoming storm. She found a right-side-up snowpack with loose unconsolidated surface snow.