Mt Hood

This will be the last avalanche forecast for the 25-26 season. Mountain weather forecasts will be published each afternoon through May 3rd. NWAC will continue to monitor conditions and issue special avalanche bulletins and warnings as needed. A huge thanks to everyone in our community for your support this winter!

1.5-2 ft of storm snow that fell Tuesday afternoon through April 14-16 continues to transition toward a spring snowpack. It sits above a firm, slick and widespread 4/14 crust, which is still exposed in a few wind-swept areas. Observers on the south side of Mt Hood found dry snow above 9000 ft, and thin, but ski supportable crusts below with excellent corn snow around 11 AM. Below 6000 ft, the snow was becoming moist/wet and wet avalanche activity was likely soon to follow. Slope testers were enjoying steep slopes without triggering wet activity before there were signs of surface crusts breaking down. But, they might not have been as fortunate on the same slopes in the afternoon. This pattern is likely to play out once again on Sunday. 

That warming trend continues into Sunday as freezing levels remain above NWAC forecast elevations. Free air temperatures may remain above freezing, but snow surfaces are expected to refreeze thanks to clear skies and increased winds. If that refreeze doesn't occur, conditions could become more dangerous than forecast as the warming trend will impact more deeply into the upper snowpack. We're expecting crusts on sun-exposed aspects up to the top of Mt Hood and dry snow on shaded slopes above 8000 ft, so if you don't find crusts when you expect them, reduce your exposure to steep slopes in light of the uncertainty.

Observers also noted a lack of cracking on the highest elevation wind-loaded test slopes . This doesn't mean unstable wind slabs can't be found, but many of the smaller deposits of wind drifted snow are quicker to stabilize and become unreactive. They also found some areas of less wind affected snow on the upper mountain, an unusual occurrance. Wind slabs were more reactive during and just after the recent storm with human triggered small wind slabs in the Mt Hood Meadows backcountry both Wedesday and Thursday. Also on Thursday, observers in Devils kitchen on the upper mountain found a reactive mid-storm interface and widespread cracking within the 2 ft of recent storm snow sitting above a thin crust. 

Remember that the recent snow has fallen on a far below-normal snowpack. Windward  and south-facing slopes are either mostly snow-free or melting out fast up to middle elevations. Exposed or barely covered rocks can exacerbate any fall or avalanche so it's wise to reduce your speed accordingly on the descent. Where snow exists at lower elevations, it the new snow is likely transitioning much more rapidly and danger is expected to be isolated. Slick crusts may be forming on the snow surface once again and could be dangerous before the sun warms them up. Make sure you have sharps and know how to use them as we transition back toward spring travel conditions.

If you plan to head to Mt Hood Meadows or Ski Bowl for uphill use, please remember these ski areas are now closed for the season and avalanche mitigation is longer being conducted. Treat this terrain like a backcountry snowpack and carry avalanche rescue gear.  

Are you heading out? You can help the forecast staff and backcountry community out by submitting your observation here or on the AvyApp.