####018003399####
WWUS86 KPQR 202144

SABOR 



                  Summary Avalanche Forecast for Mt Hood area



   Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington



   1343 PM PST Mon Feb 20 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



                          AVALANCHE WARNING TUESDAY



   Monday: Slightly increasing considerable avalanche danger above 5000

   feet and moderate below Monday. Danger increasing Monday night.



   Tuesday: Avalanche danger becoming high above 5000 feet and

   considerable below Tuesday and continuing Tuesday night.



Snowpack Synopsis



   A strong front moved over the Northwest late Friday followed by an

   upper trough on Saturday. This caused strong winds and heavy snowfall

   in the Washington Cascades but less at Mt Hood. While snowfall totals

   were heavy for Friday and Saturday in the Washington Cascades at 2-3

   feet Mt Hood received about 15 inches.



   This heavy snowfall helped cause many natural and triggered avalanches

   in the Washington Cascades Saturday and Sunday. Fatality accidents were

   seen at Stevens and Snoqualmie on Sunday. An injury accident was seen

   near Crystal Mountain on Sunday. While details regarding the avalanches

   are not yet available it appears that most of the avalanches were

   triggered in new snow layers. The lesser amounts of snow at Mt Hood

   should help to limit the unstable snow to smaller areas on steep lee

   slopes. One large natural avavalanche was reported by the Meadows ski

   patrol on Saturday. While a little stabilizing should also have

   occurred on Sunday some small areas of unstable snopw may persist on

   some steep slopes on Monday at Mt Hood.



Monday



   A weak disorganized frontal system will cross the Northwest on Monday

   with the main part expected to move to Oregon. This should cause light

   or moderate winds, light snow and slight warming on Monday. This should

   not greatly change snow conditions but the slight warming should

   maintain warmer denser surface layers and maintain existing small areas

   of potential instability on some steep slopes at Mt Hood. Careful

   snowpack evaluation and cautious route finding should be essential on

   Monday. Greater warming and increasing rain or snow should cause an

   increasing avalanche danger Monday night.



Tuesday



   The warm front portion of a strong system should reach the Northwest on

   Tuesday. This system is expected to be strongest in the Washington

   Cascades but should also affect Mt Hood. This should cause strong

   winds, light to moderate rain and rising snow levels at Mt Hood. This

   should load and weaken surface layers by Tuesday afternoon and night

   with large avalanches in some areas. Travel in avalanche terrain not

   recommended by Tuesday afternoon and night at Mt Hood.



n/a



   n/a



   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



References



   1. http://www.nwac.us/