Avalanche Forecast

Another cool and sunny day is forecast Saturday, with moderate E-SE winds continuing to transport snow in the near and above treeline elevation bands.   

New wind slab will be the primary avalanche problem as easterly winds continue to build new wind slab, including but not limited to westerly aspects. Look for recently transported snow onto lee slopes further downslope from ridgelines than you might expect, including the below treeline elevation band due to the persistence of the easterlies.    

A cool and very snowy storm cycle brought 6-7 feet of snowfall to Mt Hood the week ending December 24th. Moderate additional accumulations in the past week have allowed the snowpack to slowly settle. A variety of surface conditions exist with firm windpack near and above treeline, scoured ridge-lines, sun crusts on solar aspects, and powder below treeline in sheltered terrain.  

The Mt Hood Meadow pro patrol reported an overall right side up upper snow pack, good stability, limited wind effects below 7500 feet and good skiing on Tuesday. However, by Thursday moderate to strong east-northeast winds had begun significant new snow transport onto lee westerly aspects mainly in the near and above treeline elevation bands. 

NWAC observer Laura Green was in the Newton Creek drainage Friday and found good skiing in non-wind affected terrain. Even on wind loaded slopes near treeline, the denser winds slab was cohesive to underlying snow and no natural or skier triggered avalanches were noted. Significant wind loading continued to occur on the upper mountain.