West Slopes South

It was a soggy Saturday for much of the West South zone, as rain showers and cloudy conditions took hold after a week of warm, sunny weather. Unfortunately for summer lovers, Sunday will be largely the same as Saturday. Cloudy skies are expected, with increasing precipitation and winds in the afternoon. The bulk of the showers should be directed toward the southern volcanoes, especially Mount Adams. If you're planning on traveling to these areas, it may be worth taking a look at the Mount Hood forecast. You could find that a few inches of snow stack up at upper elevations and then get drifted into shallow slabs by the end of the day.

Otherwise, conditions are expected to be largely unchanged by this next storm system. At the upper reaches of our forecast bands, there may be a dusting of snow. High on a volcano, you'll likely encounter deeper pockets of recent snowfall. Anywhere you are sinking into the surface deeper than your ankle, you may be able to push a small wet loose slide.

The main concerns in the mountains still stem from those overhead issues that blur the line between general mountain hazards and avalanche problems. Blocks of snow shedding from rocks or cliffs, rotten snow near rocky outcrops, or sagging cornices are all common in spring and should be considered when planning your day. These isolated events are impossible to predict, but if you happen to be in the vicinity when one occurs, it could be consequential.

Surfaces aren't expected to be dangerously firm on Sunday morning, but they may be stiffer than what you found on Saturday. Daytime warming and a little more rain should soften them up throughout the day, but be sure to bring the right equipment to travel safely over firm surfaces and know how to use it.

Snow coverage varies greatly with aspect and elevation. Open holes and creeks, thin snow bridges, and exposed ground or rocks are commonplace throughout the hills and will likely become more widespread after more rain. Maybe these aren't much of a problem if you're walking/hiking, but if you're planning to ride a sled or ski, you'll undoubtedly encounter longer travel times than you're used to. If you're traveling above roughly 7,000 feet, expect to find a more robust snowpack, especially as these storms slowly start to stack up a heavy wet snow a few inches at a time.