Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Although avalanche danger may be generally low early in the day, shallow wind slabs will develop downwind of mid- and upper-elevation ridgelines as new snow arrives. Avoid slopes steeper than 35° that are actively wind loading, and carefully assess how new snow is bonding to the underlying crust.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    You might find widespread firm crusts and minimal avalanche hazard to start the day, but wind slabs will build as snow starts to fly and redistribute. Slabs are likely to reach a threshold for real danger during the mid to late morning hours and build through the afternoon. Note the bond of the new snow to the crusts, the potential for wind-stiffened snow to crack, hold cohesion, or layer up on a lee test slope. Steer around areas of active wind loading and below fresh, sharp cornices as you move into exposed terrain.

    (1/30/2026)

    A round of shallow, generally small wind slabs like this one will form as the day progresses on Sunday.

    Photo: Ryan Matz

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood Meadows received 1.18" of water equivalent since Wednesday morning. The storm cycle started as a mixed bag of precipitation types at middle elevations as snow levels fluctuated, but at upper elevations, that mostly arrived as snow, with typical amounts likley in the 4-8" range. Unfortunately, the storms finished with rain up to around 9000 ft on Friday evening. By Friday morning, widespread crusts were found on the snow surfaces above 7000 ft, with saturated snow surfaces below that.

The last 24 hours has seen a drastic change in upper elevation conditions. Friday featured touchy widely propagating wind slabs. Some of these were human-triggered and small. On Saturday, NWAC forecasters saw evidence confirming a natural cycle of small to large wet loose and wind slab avalanches from Friday and Saturday. Most of this avalanche activity ran efficiently and at times over 1000 vertical ft on the Late January Interface crust. See examples of this activity in the gallery. Conditions have changed quickly and we're focusing on new wind slab buildup moving forward.

Although this has not been confirmed in all areas, the 1/30 rain event likely caps the aspects that held dry snow as of 1/28 on northerly aspects, where a mix of isolated near-surface facets, old firm drifted snow, and decomposing crusts could be found at the time. 

If you head out in the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here. 

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