Summary Avalanche Forecast for Mt Hood area
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington
1159 AM PST Fri Feb 03 2012
This forecast applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet and does not apply to developed ski areas or highways.
Avalanche Forecast
Mt Hood Area
Friday: Avalanche danger becoming considerable above 5000 feet mainly on south slopes and moderate below. Danger decreasing Friday night.
Saturday: Avalanche danger becoming moderate above 4000 feet mainly on south slopes. Danger decreasing Saturday night.
Sunday Outlook: Avalanche danger again becoming moderate above 4000 feet mainly on south slopes. Danger decreasing Sunday night.
Snowpack Synopsis
An active weather pattern produced frequently wet or snowy weather the latter half of January. This also generally produced avalanches, consolidation and regional stabilizing of the older portion of the snow pack.
The last storm was late Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures remained cool during this storm and Mt Hood accumulated about 5-9 inches of snowfall. Mt Hood Meadows reported sensitive skier triggered avalanches up to about 12 inches in depth on Wednesday.
Decreasing winds, clearing and warming was seen Thursday. This should have produced stabilizing and a slight regional decrease in the avalanche danger.
Friday
Sunny warm weather should be seen on Friday. The main avalanche concern in most areas should be the effects of the sun and warm temperatures on steep sunny slopes. Natural wet snow avalanches should be possible and human triggered wet snow avalanches should be most likely on steep slopes facing the sun. Careful evaluation of wet snow on steep slopes facing the sun should be essential on Friday. Overnight cooling should refreeze wet surface layers and decrease the regional avalanche danger Friday night.
Saturday
Lighter winds and sunny warm weather should be seen again Saturday. Wet snow layers should be partly stabilized after Friday. The main avalanche concern should continue to be the effects of the sun and warm temperatures on steep sunny slopes. Human triggered wet snow avalanches may remain possible on steep slopes facing the sun. But don’t forget to evaluate snow carefully on all aspects on Saturday. Overnight cooling should again refreeze wet surface layers and decrease the regional avalanche danger Saturday night.
Sunday Outlook
Light winds and sunny warm weather is expected yet again on Sunday. Avalanche concerns should be similar to but a bit less than Saturday. The greatest caution should probably be needed on steep slopes facing the sun. But evaluate snow carefully on all aspects on Sunday.
NWAC weather data and forecasts are also available by calling 206-526-6677 for Washington, 503-808-2400 for the Mt Hood area, or by visiting our Web site at www.nwac.us.
Ferber/Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington