Avalanche Forecast

Moderate to strong E-NE winds will continue through Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will warm a few degrees over Saturday, especially in the alpine with high pressure moving into the region, but the winds will likely negate any solar effects. No avalanche problems are identified in the Mt. Hood area and an overall low avalanche danger is expected. 

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow (new or existing) to pose an avalanche hazard. 

Since the wet start to February, fair weather through mid-February has lead to generally thick surface crusts and further consolidation of the snowpack, as well as further deterioration of the snow cover below treeline.

A few weather disturbances passed through in NW flow aloft the latter half of the week, bringing an inch or two of new snow near and above treeline for Mt. Hood. The Mt. Hood Meadows pro-patrol reported minor new snow on a firm thick surface crust Friday morning.

On Saturday, NWAC observer C.J. Svela was on the south side of Mt. Hood traveling in the near and above tree-line zones out of Timberline. He found overall low avalanche hazard, a firm surface on the upper mountain, and the solar effects limited by moderate NE winds. Check out his photos on Instagram. 

The mid and lower snowpack at Mt Hood snow consists of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.