Avalanche Forecast

Mostly clear skies followed by increasing high clouds late Sunday night should allow for the surface snow to again form a crust, though likely not supportable.

Increasing clouds and moderate south winds and warm temperatures are expected during the day Monday. This should allow for slowly weakening surface snow, however wind and clouds should limit the surface snow melt to just a few inches at most.

Older wind slabs formed late last week will continue to strengthen, but may linger above treeline, especially on steep shaded slopes below ridges. Identify and avoid locations where avalanches are more likely triggered, such as unsupported slopes, steep convex roles, below cornices, and other shallow locations within the snowpack.

The stout icy surface crust reported in much of the terrain should persist due to clouds and wind and this should limit wet snow conditions Monday. While loose wet avalanches are not expected, monitor changing surface snow conditions. 

Icy surface crust near and below treeline, and a variety of snow surfaces above treeline will continue to make travel difficult in the Mt Hood area.

A strong high pressure ridge brought warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies to the Mt Hood area Saturday and again Sunday. This allowed the first real views into above treeline terrain in several days.

Friday, a rain and freezing rain event created icy surface conditions up to at least 7000 feet. While this surface crust softened on Saturday it did not entirely break down.

Above treeline, W-SW winds Wednesday through Friday combined with significant snowfall have likely created a variety of snow surface conditions, including firm wind slabs in the alpine.

Observations

Observations Friday from Mt Hood Meadows reported a supportable rain and freezing rain crust to 7000 feet. The ice crust prevented winds from transporting snow near and below treeline.