Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Stability is gradually improving, but you might still trigger a large slab on a steep lee slope, particularly at upper elevations. Recent snow transport may have destabilized snow down to mid-slope features. Use clues such as textured snow, cracking, pillow-like drifts, and fresh, sharp cornices to identify and steer around suspect steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    We're gaining confidence that most of the recently formed wind slabs are soft, small, and primarily focused on upper elevation N-E slopes. In a heavily wind-loaded location, a large wind slab isn't out of the question. Easterly winds may start to re-distribute shallow snow back onto previously wind-scoured W or S aspects. These slabs may rest directly on a JDL crust and could bond poorly in some areas. With stability improving and a decreased likelihood for large slab avalanches, it's reasonable to move into steeper terrain if you don't find cracking, whumphs, or reactive hand pits and test slopes. If you identify causes for concern, seek more wind-protected terrain and slopes less than 35 degrees.

    Cornices are growing large and overhanging at upper elevations. They are useful for pointing out wind-loaded slopes, but may also break off without warning and trigger slabs on the slopes below. Give them respect from below and also on ridgelines where they have a reputation for breaking further back than you expect.

     

    Example: Cornices point to suspect slopes, which often show signs of loading, such as texture or ripples.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Dry

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    All the recent low-density snow won't consolidate enough to limit this problem until the sun comes out or temperatures warm significantly. Dry loose avalanches involve the entrainment of surface snow, frequently initiated as you move down a very steep slope. You can manage the sluff by intentionally getting it moving before engaging with the slope or by moving out of the way of it. If you're not comfortable with these techniques, steer around steep rollovers, gully, or creek features where you might get into trouble. 

    (2/5/2025)

    Dry loose intentionally triggered "sluff" avalanche on a steep slope. 

    Photo: Ryan Matz

Avalanche Discussion

As we emerge from a week-long cold storm cycle, we're gaining confidence that wind slab activity is unlikely to propagate down to the January Drought Layer (JDL) crust. However, it is still worth examining this interface before venturing onto larger N- or E-facing terrain features.

Mt. Hood Meadows weather station has picked up 2 feet of snow and 2.5 inches of snow water equivalent. The storm started warm, but recent waves of precipitation have been very cold and low-density; the last round delivered 8-12" of cold smoke in the 24 hours ending Thursday morning. Riding conditions remain high quality, particularly in sheltered terrain.

Mt. Hood Meadows Pro Patrol triggered 4-6" soft slabs in upper elevation terrain on Thursday morning. The slabs didn't run particularly far. Slabs were less prevalent at middle elevations. On Wednesday, observers at lower elevations near Tom, Dick, and Harry found that slabs generally fell apart and were stubborn with hand shears, suggesting that more cohesion is needed for the slab to become a problem in sheltered terrain. In this area, the observers found 6-12" of generally right-side-up snow above the JDL crust.  On Tuesday, an observer traveling up the Palmer snowfield found plenty of relatively soft snow (4-finger hardness) still available to be transported, even in upper-elevation terrain. 

The January Drought Layer (JDL) is a crust with varying thicknesses that harbors a thick layer of facets just beneath and sometimes above. This facet/crust combo remains worth watching on N-E aspects at middle elevations where the crust is thinner and more fragile. It also could be more of an issue on the north side of Mt Hood.

We haven’t observed any confirmed avalanches on this layer, but early in the storm cycle, we had propagating test results  (observation/ observation) and whumping collapses on northerly aspects near Bennett Pass (observation). 

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