####018002919#### WWUS86 KPQR 251954 SABOR Summary Avalanche Forecast for Mt Hood area Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington 1153 AM PST Sat Feb 25 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 SATURDAY TO SUNDAY MORNING Saturday: Increasing high danger above 5000 feet and considerable below continuing or slightly decreasing Saturday night. Sunday: Decreasing high danger above 5000 feet and considerable below in the morning further decreasing in the afternoon and night. Snowpack Synopsis A front crossed the Northwest on Friday night. This caused increasing stormy weather Friday night with strong winds and heavy snow at Mt Hood by Saturday morning. Snowfall by Saturday early morning at Mt Hood looks like it was already in the 7-9 inch range but was uncertain due to strong winds affecting measurements. Blizzard conditions were reported at Meadows on Saturday morning. Saturday An upper trough and cool unstable air mass will cross the Cascades on Saturday. This should cause a day of heavy snow showers in the Cascades. Winds and snow showers should be relatively heavy in the stronger flow in the south Cascades. The rapid loading and weak storm layers within the new snow will continue to cause unstable conditions at Mt Hood. Natural or triggered avalanches should be likely at Mt Hood on Saturday. Back country travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at Mt Hood on Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday A second much weaker trough should shift north to south over the Northwest on Sunday with the main part over the coastal waters. This should generally cause a change to light winds with mostly light snow showers shifting north to south over the area and cool temperatures. The primary consideration in all areas should be the rate of stabilizing of the new heavy storm snow layers from Saturday. At this time expect very dangerous avalanche conditions to persist at Mt Hood and as a safety margin back country travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at higher elevations through Sunday morning. Stabilizing processes in the new heavy storm snow should cause the avalanche danger to gradually decrease by Sunday afternoon and night. 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/####018003617#### WWUS86 KSEW 251954 SABWA Summary Avalanche Forecast for Olympics and Washington Cascades Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Seattle Washington 1153 AM PST Sat Feb 25 2012 This forecast applies to back country avalanche terrain below 7000 feet and does not apply to developed ski areas or highways. Avalanche Forecast Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest AVALANCHE WARNING SATURDAY TO SUNDAY MORNING Saturday: Increasing high danger above 4000 feet and considerable below continuing or slightly decreasing Saturday night. Sunday: Decreasing high danger above 4000 feet and considerable below in the morning further decreasing in the afternoon and night. Washington Cascades east of the crest Saturday: Increasing high danger above 5000 feet and considerable below continuing or slightly decreasing Saturday night. Sunday: Decreasing high danger above 5000 feet and considerable below in the morning further decreasing in the afternoon and night. Snowpack Synopsis A front crossed the Northwest on Friday night. This caused increasing stormy weather Friday night with strong winds and heavy snow by Saturday morning. Snowfall by Saturday early morning was already in the 8-24 inch range at sites near and west of the crest. Natural and triggered avalanches were already reported by the Stevens and Crystal ski patrol crews on Saturday morning. Saturday An upper trough and cool unstable air mass will cross the Olympics and Cascades on Saturday. This should cause a day of heavy snow showers in the Olympics and Cascades. Winds and snow showers should be heaviest in convergence in the north to central Cascades and in the stronger flow in the south Cascades. The rapid loading and weak storm layers within the new snow will continue to cause unstable conditions in most areas. Natural or triggered avalanches should be likely in most areas on Saturday. The largest avalanches may be seen in the north Cascades where more snow was seen last Tuesday and Wednesday and where there are potential deeper persistent weak layers. Back country travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended Saturday. Winds and snow showers may begin to ease enough to cause a slight decrease in the avalanche danger Saturday night. Sunday A second much weaker trough should shift north to south over the Northwest on Sunday with the main part over the coastal waters. This should generally cause a change to light winds with mostly light snow showers shifting north to south over the area and cool temperatures. The primary consideration should be the rate of stabilizing of the new heavy storm snow layers from Saturday. At this time expect very dangerous avalanche conditions to persist and as a safety margin back country travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at higher elevations through Sunday morning. Stabilizing processes in the new heavy storm snow should cause the avalanche danger to gradually decrease by Sunday afternoon and night. 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/