Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Mt Hood.
New more reactive wind and storm slab in the alpine should be the focus on Monday at Mt Hood
Detailed Forecast
A warm front on Sunday night will be rapidly followed by another warm front on Monday. Strong southwest to west winds should be seen in the alpine with moderate to heavy rain or snow mainly Sunday night and  again by Monday midday with further warming. Snowfall so far in December by Monday morning at Mt Hood will be in about the 2 foot range.
New more reactive wind and storm slab in the alpine should be the focus on Monday at Mt Hood. Visibility will probably be poor on Monday and careful snow evaluation and cautious route finding should be essential if you venture into the alpine.
With little snow near and below treeline at Mt Hood, wet loose snow avalanches will not be in the forecast. But change your plans if you find wet snow deeper than a few inches or see signs of wet loose activity such as pin wheels or natural wet loose avalanches.
Snowpack Discussion
Weather and Snowpack:
We had a wet and wild November with about 18-22 inches of water at NWAC station at Mt Hood only amounting to about 1-2 feet of snow above 6000 feet. This formed a strong crust in mid November.
Then strong high pressure and sunny weather was seen in late November at Mt Hood.
The weather so far in December has become more active with snowfall at Mt Hood and an overall warming trend.Â
Reports:
We don't have much information for Mt Hood yet this season.
The Mt Hood Meadows pro-patrol on Sunday found little on avalanche control. But on a northeast slope at 6600 feet a ski cut gave a sensitive 6-8 inch nearly fully path slab avalanche that released on the mid November crust.
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Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..
Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.
Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 1
Storm Slabs
Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. 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.
You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.
Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1