Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Dec 6 – 7, 2015Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low

Highlights

New more reactive wind and storm slab in the alpine should be the focus on Monday at Mt Hood

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1
  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

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. 

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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