Avalanche Forecast

Sunny, warm weather is expected on Thursday.

Loose wet avalanches, mainly involving any recent storm snow from Monday and Monday night, will be possible on any steep slope, especially during the warmest part of the day Thursday afternoon. Pay attention to the integrity of surface crusts formed overnight. Backcountry travel early in the day is recommended since conditions can change rapidly due to daytime warming. Watch for wet snow deeper than your boot tops especially on steep solar slopes during the midday and afternoon hours.

The likelihood of cornice releases will continue on Thursday from intense solar radiation and warming temperatures. Cornice releases can be unpredictable during the spring so avoid areas below cornices and remember that cornices can break much further back than expected along ridges.

Any wind slab deposits caused from the snow received Monday, in combination with moderate westerly winds should have mostly stabilized by Thursday and wind slab won't be listed as an avalanche problem on Thursday. However, continue to watch for signs of wind slab mainly on north to east facing slopes above treeline where extra caution is warranted.  Firm wind transported snow and snowpack cracking can be good signs of wind slab layers.

Although not listed as an avalanche problem, large, powerful glide avalanches can release unexpectedly so avoid areas below steep unsupported slopes or rock faces.

Avalanche activity on Thursday is not expected to be as extensive as during the warm weather last week which more closely followed a period of heavier snowfall and already caused consolidation and some stabilizing. Hence the moderate avalanche rating in all areas. But heat related small to large loose wet avalanches, cornice releases and glide avalanches will be possible on Thursday. You will need to be able to evaluate avalanche conditions on specific terrain features and change your plans if snow conditions are more dangerous than expected.

Weather and Snowpack

A large upper ridge dominated the weather last week through early Sunday, resulting in very warm and dry weather. A spring avalanche cycle occurred in most areas over this stretch, likely peaking Thursday or Friday during the warmest temperatures and lightest winds. After a stormy March, the snowpack has undergone significant settlement and multiple melt-freeze cycles over the last week.

A front moved across the Mt Hood area early Monday morning, resulting in a period of moderate precipitation, cooling and moderate to strong westerly crest level winds.  Precipitation transitioned from rain to snow as cooling occurred, forming a generally good bond to the old melt freeze crust. Showers at cooling temperatures occurred overnight Monday and Monday night. Storm snow amounts on Mt Hood ranged from 6-12 inches as of Tuesday.

Another upper ridge is currently over the Northwest causing sunny weather and warm temperatures.

Frequent March storms have built large cornices along many ridges.

The mid and lower snowpack along the west slopes should generally be a stable mix of crusts and layers of moist and rounded snow crystals.

Recent Observations

Following the recent snowfall Monday and Monday night, on Tuesday 3/5 the Meadows pro-patrol reported only isolated avalanche results. Moderate to strong winds appeared to have displaced much of the storm snow, rather than building wind slabs in the typical places, hence only isolated results were achieved and those from large explosives. Good bonding of recent snow was also noted with the old moist surface.

On Wednesday midday the Meadows pro-patrol reported no avalanches within the ski area but some triggered loose wet avalanches on the upper mountain. Increasing wet surface snow with boot penetration was seen on Wednesday of about 15 inches to the crust from last week.