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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 12th, 2018–Feb 13th, 2018

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Mt Hood.

No significant avalanche problems are expected Tuesday, however non-avalanche-related hazards exist. Avoid shaded and steep icy slopes where a slip and fall could become very dangerous. Small loose wet avalanches are possible on very steep solar slopes. 

Detailed Forecast

Fair and mild weather on Tuesday will continue to minimize the avalanche hazard in the Mt. Hood area, and no significant avalanche problems are expected. Firm frozen surface snow will soften on slopes receiving direct sun. Small loose wet avalanches are possible on very steep solar slopes. Shaded slopes will remain frozen and firm.

Several non-avalanche-related hazards exist. Firm surface snow will make travel difficult and potentially dangerous. Avoid steep icy slopes where it will be difficult to stop a fall. 

Use appropriate travel techniques Tuesday to reduce your exposure to non-avalanche hazards.

Snowpack Discussion

Strong firm surface snow exists in the Mt Hood backcountry.  Warm and wet weather the first week of February created a strong and consolidated snowpack. The current snowpack consist of numerous old crusts and very strong refrozen layers.  There are no significant layers of concern at this time.

No avalanches have been observed over the last several days.

Observations

Mt Hood Meadows ski patrol Sunday reported very firm surface snow conditions resulting in no current avalanche problems.

On Friday, NWAC professional observer Laura Green traveled above Timberline Ski Area. Avalanches were not a concern due to the presence of a thick, icy surface crust. The biggest danger was the risk of a fall and slide on steep slopes.  

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.