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12/16 Mt. Hood forecast (contains enough snow for an avalanche)










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Mt. Hood Snow Forecast – 5000′
4a-8a 8a-12p 12p-4p 4p-8p 8p-4a
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday

I have to admit that I giggled yesterday when NWS issued a winter weather advisory for the Gorge at 9am. That’s not really forecasting when you call snowfall one hour before snow starts falling! Not that I was perfect either… I really didn’t think it would stick to the roads, and I’m still surprised that it stuck downtown with the temp hovering right around freezing.

Anyway, you can pretty much forget about playing outside in Hood River and staying dry until Tuesday. Maybe try The Dalles? And for snow in the Upper Valley, let’s keep an eye on Monday night, all day Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. For snow at river level, Wednesday morning looks like the best chance, and if it happens then, it’s going to happen deep and heavy. As a matter of fact, I’m a bit worried about the snow situation in town Wednesday, but this is a long, long way out to be forecasting… If you’re crazy enough to go windsurfing or kiting in the frigid weather, tomorrow looks like a strong west wind day, probably out east.


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Up on the mountain, it’s a week of skiers’ delight if the referenced skiers are storm skiers. The snow level is around 1500′ this morning and will hold through early afternoon, but climb briefly to 5500′ between 4pm and 10pm. Around 10pm, the snow level drops to 4000′. We’ll see light snow through 1pm, for .3” water value (WV) for 3-4”, and then it will dump. During the warmer period, 4pm-10pm, we’ll get an impressive 1.2” WV for 6-10” of heavy snow. Another .7” WV falls by 4am. There’s a 50/50 chance of snow mixed with rain during the 4-10pm period, but the precip will be so heavy, it may knock the snow level down low enough that 5000′ will see all snow. Anyway, blah, blah, blah, snowfall between 4pm and 4am will total 12-20”, depending on what happens during the warm period. Regardless, there will be a ton of new snow tonight. Wind today will be W 30 early, WSW 15-20 mid-morning, rising to SW 40 by 4pm. Overnight winds will be SW 70ish.

Monday morning sees the snow level at 4000′, falling to 3000′ by 7am, 1000′ by 1pm and 500′ by 4pm. Dumping snow continues, with 2” WV falling between 4am and 4pm, for 18-26” of new snow. Yes, really. Another .4” WV falls overnight, for 4-6” more, not that it makes a difference after 2′ during the day. However, and this is a big however: If high speed quads can run tomorrow, it will be an impressive feat of lift maintenance studmuffinry. The wind will be WSW 70 at 4am. That’s fine, because it’s SW. At 7am, the wind will clock around to W 50-60. Even more fun will be the WNW 50 at 1pm and slightly more northerly 45+ at 4pm.

Tuesday looks much nicer, with flurries in the morning and sunbreaks in the afternoon. The freezing level will be at 500′. Wind will be SW 20 early, NW 20-30 during the day. Total snowfall Tuesday will be under 2”

On Wednesday morning in the wee hours, dumping snow returns, with another foot or more with strong SW wind and the snow level rising from the surface (in the Gorge) in the morning to 5000′ in the afternoon. Dumping snow (a foot or more) continues into Thursday.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

By Temira

Temira Lital is a recreation and travel weather forecaster based in Hood River, Oregon. Temira uses they/them pronouns. They're also a mental health counselor. Temira bikes, skis, windsurfs, paddles a SUP, swims in mountain lakes, and loves gardening. Most recently they've taken up SUP foiling. Temira is powered by La Croix, protein, and beets.