Avalanche Forecast

The sun will come back out on Saturday along with mild temperatures, making small Loose Wet avalanches possible on some steep slopes facing the sun, especially in the late morning and afternoon hours. The sun will be out for an extended period of time on Saturday and may break down melt-freeze crusts at higher elevations. After several melt-freeze cycles, Loose Wet avalanches problem are getting harder to trigger. Watch for warning signs that indicate increasing hazard like sinking above your ankles in wet soft snow and natural Loose Wet avalanches. Even small Loose Wet avalanches can be dangerous in high consequences such as over cliffs or in tight gullies.

Reports suggest that mild, cloudy conditions on Friday prevented a strong re-freeze at lower elevations, but winds and clouds likely kept the crust intact at higher elevations. 

Mild sunny weather on Wednesday and Thursday corresponded with several melt-freeze cycles, which developed for a strong melt-freeze crust to form on all aspects up to at least 7000 ft.

The mild weather has allowed for older Wind Slabs to stabilize. Small Loose Wet avalanches were becoming possible over the past two days, but reports indicate these Loose Wet avalanches were very shallow and isolated to steeper slopes below rocks. 

There are currently no significant layers of concern in the mid or lower snowpack.

Observations

On Friday, professional reports indicated little to no Loose-Wet avalanche activity and rock outcrops had already shed most of their snow/ice.

On Thursday, professional reports from terrain in and adjacent to Mt Hood Meadows indicate only very shallow Loose-Wet avalanches were seen on specific steep slopes, mainly below rock outcrops. Older Wind Slabs were no longer considered a problem with a strong melt-freeze crust dominating the snow surface with shallow wet surface snow during the afternoon hours.  

On Wednesday, Mt. Hood Meadows pro-patrol reported crusts extending to 7000 ft in the terrain with Loose Wet conditions developing around mid-day as the crust broke down. Patrol had good visibility onto higher elevation terrain and saw no signs of recent Wind Slab avalanche activity.

On Tuesday, Mt. Hood Meadows pro-patrol reported moderate west winds near and above treeline but limited snow available to form new wind slabs in their area. Warm temperatures and occasional light rain caused small Loose Wet avalanches on all aspects near and below treeline, but especially on southerly aspects.