Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You'll likely find generally safe avalanche conditions with only a dusting to a few inches of new snow and relatively tame winds on Thursday.  There's uncertainty with the weather forecast so keep an eye out for fresh drifts, blowing snow and shallow new wind slabs on the upper mountain.  Anywhere you find a firm slick crust, make sure you can self-arrest a fall before crossing a steep icy slope. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    You may encounter shallow wind slabs in isolated areas and at upper elevations on Thursday.  If more snow and stronger winds materialize, your chances of encountering freshly drifted snow and potentially triggering shallow new wind slabs on steep lee slopes will increase. 

    New wind slabs are likely to be small, so use caution on larger slopes and near extreme features where a small avalanche could do more harm.  You can test the bond of the new snow to the underlying crust on test slopes and look for cracking in wind-affected snow as you travel. 

    You'll find a firm crust at or near the surface at all elevations following another cool night.   On windward slopes stripped of new snow or anywhere you find a slick crust,  make sure you have the proper tools to arrest a fall before crossing steep icy slopes. 

    (3/29/2024)

    If more new snow and wind materialize on Thursday than forecast, you could encounter shallow wind slabs like this on the upper mountain.  

    Reactive pockets of wind drifted snow on west aspects along the Reid Glacier. 

    Photo: Evan Stone

Avalanche Discussion

A quick-moving front brought strong ridgeline and extreme alpine W-SW winds Tuesday night and Wednesday along with plummeting temperatures.  Unfortunately,  only an inch or two of new snow fell during this period.  Widespread wet manky snow from earlier in the week was replaced by firm surface conditions Wednesday morning.  A trace to up to 2" of new snow was recorded at weather stations on the mountain.  Mt Hood Meadows pro-patrol observed firm conditions all day at mid and upper elevations, with softening surfaces confined to open slopes below 5500' and no new avalanche activity.  Another cold night with below freezing temperatures will keep snow surfaces firm.  Right now we aren't concerned about any layers below the latest surface crust as the snowpack continues to transition during the spring-time.  Be prepared for spring-time travel and the associated challenges as the snow melts back on certain aspects and at lower elevations. 

 If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here.

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