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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 1st, 2015–Feb 2nd, 2015

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Mt Hood.

Expect quickly escalating avalanche danger as one travels further into the above treeline band Monday due to sensitive storm and wind slabs, mainly on lee easterly aspects. Small loose wet avalanches are also possible near and above treeline. 

Detailed Forecast

An incoming frontal system will bring light to occasionally moderate rain and snow to the Mt. Hood area beginning mid-morning on Monday. Snow levels should quickly rise to around 7000 feet by late morning or mid-day.  Shallow storm and wind slabs, especially on lee aspects should become sensitive due to rising freezing levels and rainfall, releasing on storm layers consisting of new snow from earlier Monday and Sunday's frontal system. 

Although new storm and wind slabs are expected to be shallow, expect quickly escalating avalanche danger as one travels further into the above treeline band Monday.   

Small loose wet avalanches are most likely near treeline where there has been less wind effect.

Below treeline, light to moderate rain should have little impact on the avalanche danger. 

 

Snowpack Discussion

After last weekend's rain (Jan 24-25th), predominately mild or sunny weather settled in during the work week. A frontal system crossed the PNW on Sunday, producing light to moderate amounts of new snow mainly above 6000 ft with moderate westerly transport winds above treeline.

No new avalanches have been reported over the last week. 

Overall the snow pack at Mt Hood should predominately consist of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt form layers and crusts from warm periods so far this winter.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the 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. 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.