Mt Hood

Storm related avalanche problems could escalate quickly in the near and above treeline bands Friday with new snow and shifting winds.  

Light to occasionally moderate snowfall is possible for the Mt. Hood area Thursday night and Friday morning, with shallow yet unstable storm slabs developing by mid-day. 

As winds shift from westerly to easterly Friday afternoon, the potential for new wind slab and cross-loaded slopes will become more likely, especially near and above tree-line.  

Expect increasing storm related avalanche concerns in the near and above treeline bands on Friday if you travel into avalanche terrain.  

Due to the low snowpack, especially below treeline, watch for terrain hazards such as open creeks, partially covered rocks and vegetation. Many areas below treeline do not have enough snow (new or existing) to pose an avalanche hazard. 

Since the wet start to February, fair weather through mid-February has led to generally thick surface crusts, as well as further deterioration of the snow cover below treeline. Weak weather disturbances passed through in NW flow aloft last week producing light snowfall but no new avalanche concerns. 

New snowfall at NWAC Mt. Hood stations from Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon ranged from less than 1 inch at Meadows to a soggy 3 inches at Timberline with likely higher accumulations and some loading of easterly aspects above treeline. No avalanche reports were received on Thursday.  

The mid and lower snowpack at Mt Hood snow consist of layers of stable consolidated rounded grains or melt forms and crusts from multiple warm periods this winter.