Avalanche Forecast

A shift to onshore flow will maintain fair and mild conditions Sunday, but slightly cooler than the previous several days. Winds should remain light Sunday with some night and morning low level clouds possible in the valleys.  Freezing levels and temperatures should remain near 10,000 feet Sunday. Stay aware of the overhead hazard to minimize your exposure. 

Surface crusts should form overnight through the early morning hours followed by gradual melting and weakening. Pay attention to the integrity of surface crusts formed overnight. Loose wet avalanches will be possible on any steeper slope due to warming Sunday. Backcountry travel early in the day is encouraged since conditions can change rapidly due to daytime warming. Watch for wet snow deeper than your boot tops, especially on steep solar slopes during the late morning to afternoon hours.

The potential for cornice releases will continue on Sunday. Cornice releases can be unpredictable during the spring so avoid areas below cornices and remember that cornices can break much further back than expected along ridges.

Although not listed as an avalanche problem, large, powerful glide avalanches can release unexpectedly so avoid areas below steep unsupported slopes or rock faces.

Avalanche activity on Sunday should be less extensive as during the very warm weather last week which more closely followed a period of heavier snowfall and caused consolidation and some stabilizing. Continue to evaluate avalanche conditions on specific terrain features and change your plans if snow conditions are more dangerous than expected.

Weather and Snowpack

A large upper ridge dominated the weather last week through early Sunday, April 3rd, resulting in very warm and dry weather. A spring avalanche cycle occurred in most areas over this stretch, likely peaking a week ago, Thursday and Friday. After a stormy March, the snowpack has undergone significant settlement and multiple melt-freeze cycles over the last two weeks.

The last precipitation occurred early Monday morning with showers Tuesday, depositing storm snow from 6-12 inches, now indistinguishable following several melt freeze cycles during the very warm weather. 

Another upper ridge is currently over the Northwest, causing sunny weather and very warm temperatures with most NWAC stations on Mt Hood warming into the 50s and 60s Thursday and Friday! 

Frequent March storms have built large cornices along many ridges.

The mid and lower snowpack along the west slopes should generally be a stable mix of crusts and layers of moist and rounded snow crystals.

Recent Observations

Following the recent snowfall Monday and Monday night, on Tuesday 4/5 the Meadows pro-patrol reported only isolated avalanche results. Moderate to strong winds appeared to have displaced much of the storm snow, rather than building wind slabs in the typical places, hence only isolated results were achieved and those from large explosives. Good bonding of recent snow was also noted with the old moist surface.

Mid-day on Wednesday 4/6 the Meadows pro-patrol reported no avalanches within the ski area, but some triggered loose wet avalanches on the upper mountain.

After a quiet day Thursday, Meadows pro-partol reported a thin melt-freeze crust quickly breaking down Friday morning. The gamut of wet snow avalanches was observed Friday due to the warmth; small loose wet on steeper solar slopes, partial cornice failures and even a small glide avalanche above a rock face on an east aspect at 5500'.