Mt Hood

Light new snowfall and strong winds may create some thin wind drifted slabs along exposed features above 6000 ft, but it likely won't be enough to push us out of low danger. These drifts shouldn’t be much of an issue unless you’re in steep, complex terrain where a small avalanche could push you into unwanted areas or create a sliding fall on slick, underlying surfaces. Continue to pack the proper gear for firm, icy travel. 

After 18 days of no precipitation, Mt. Hood will finally see some light snowfall on Tuesday night and Wednesday. There’s some uncertainty about precipitation totals, but if the forecast holds, the advisory area could pick up 2-3 inches of new snow by the end of the day. This amount of new snow won’t do much to increase the avalanche danger beyond low, but low danger still allows for small avalanches in isolated or extreme terrain. This is exactly where you should be most suspicious of fresh new wind slabs, particularly around complex, wind-loaded terrain where a small avalanche could easily have an undesirable outcome. While slabs will remain small on Wednesday, these could be reactive if they form over slick crusts or isolated faceted snow on northerly aspects. 

While the new snow is welcome, it may not be enough to eliminate the long, sliding fall hazard in steep alpine terrain, especially in areas that are prone to scouring. Continue to pack traction, a self-arrest tool, and be mindful of the consequences of a slip in steep terrain. 

As you’d expect, the snowpack is very aspect-dependent after the January drought. Most aspects that still have snow (E-S-W) have been through a solid melt-freeze cycle for well over two weeks now. In these areas, expect a melt-freeze crust that will vary in thickness depending on elevation and aspect. Northerly aspects are still holding areas of dry, faceting snow surfaces in more wind-sheltered areas and firm wind-drifted snow in alpine terrain. Low elevations are in rough shape, but also have more widespread weak surfaces due to temperature inversions. 

As new snow falls over the coming days, expect reactivity and snowpack depths to vary widely as you change aspects. 

If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp.