Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Saturday won’t be the day to sneak around avalanche terrain. New snow and wind will create dangerous avalanche conditions around Mt. Hood. Default to wind-sheltered, low-angle terrain until the storm has run its course. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Heavy snowfall and strong winds will create dangerous avalanche conditions on any steep slope, greater than 30 degrees, even below treeline.  Expect these slabs to be larger and touchier in areas with fresh wind loading, such as the leeward side of ridges & canyons, below cornices, and under rock and cliff bands. New snow has fallen on variable surfaces depending on the aspect, so be sure to dig down and evaluate the bond to the old snow surface as you change slopes. Avalanches could break in surprising ways if they fail on a slick bed surface or faceted surfaces from our short-lived dry spell.

    Significant new snowfall, active drifting, and poor visibility should help keep your terrain selection simple on Saturday. Stick to wind-sheltered terrain less than 30 degrees with minimal exposure to large overhead slopes. And importantly, don't ignore obvious signs of instability such as shooting cracks,  whumphing, or recent natural or human-triggered avalanche activity. 

    (12/25/2021)

    An example of a small storm slab. You may be able to trigger slabs like this in steep, sheltered terrain on Saturday or bigger ones on wind-loaded slopes.  

    Photo: Stephen Semanski

Avalanche Discussion

It's been a favorable storm cycle for Mt. Hood so far. As I write this, the Mt Hood Meadows base weather station has picked up over 10 inches of new snow and it continues to come down thanks to southerly flow aloft. The bulk of precipitation is forecast to arrive on Friday evening into Saturday morning and should continue through the day. The winds are also forecast to notch up, so expect a stormy day even at lower elevations. 

We had a variety of surfaces depending on the aspect leading up to this snowfall. On solar aspects (SW-SE), new snow fell on a stout melt-freeze crust from last week's warming. Shaded slopes held lightly faceted snow, wind-affected surfaces, and some spotty surface hoar in more sheltered terrain. A crust from last week's rain event ( the 12/7 crust) may also be harboring some weak snow, which recent observations highlight. So the take home is simple;  avalanche conditions will vary depending on what aspect and elevation you’re on.  Take the time to assess the new snow stability as you move around the compass rose and increase your margins from larger terrain during stormy periods like this. 

If you get out, let us know what you find by submitting a public observation !

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