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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2020–Jan 23rd, 2020

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Mt Hood.

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Large, natural and human triggered avalanches are very likely. You will be able to trigger avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill you. Avoid all avalanche terrain including valley bottoms that are connected to open slopes at higher elevations.

Discussion

A storm laying down significant snowfall is now turning to rain Wednesday evening. Avalanche hazard will peak during the night tonight and remain elevated Thursday. Significant rain will continue to fall on a mostly dry snowpack and test weak layers in the recent snow. Last week, a very large natural avalanche occurred in Newton Canyon. This storm has the potential to trigger similar, very large and destructive avalanches.

(Click the Photos & Regional Synopsis tab above for some pics of this avalanche on the  Newton Headwall which traveled from 10,000’ to 5000’ last week)

Snowpack Discussion

New Regional Synopsis coming soon. We update the Regional Synopsis every Thursday at 6 pm.

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Clearing on Sunday offered the first look at the upper mountain after an active 10 days of weather. A very large avalanche was observed on the Newton Headwall. It likely occurred during the storm last week, but highlights continued uncertainty about the snowpack at upper elevations.

A very large crown around 10,000’ on the Newton Headwall of Mt Hood which likely occurred during the storm last week. Photo: Kevin Kayl

Debris from the Newton Headwall avalanche in Newton Canyon. Debris filled the valley floor and extends to 5000’! Photo: Nick Burks

Problems

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

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.