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

Monitor changing conditions as the cold dry snow thaws on steep, sun-exposed slopes. You may be able to trigger an avalanche in wet snow by afternoon. At upper elevations, steer around steep unsupported terrain where you find evidence of recent wind-drifted snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    A beautiful sunny day is in store for Friday with calm winds and rising temperatures. Snow surfaces are cold and dry, and should heat up on steep slopes in direct sun. Pay attention as snow starts to shed from trees, rocks, and cliffs, or if you see rollerballs and pinwheels. These are signals you could trigger loose wet slides on similar slopes. Time your day and have a backup plan to move to shadier or lower angled slopes if necessary. Use caution in very steep terrain and around terrain traps like cliffs and gullies where even small wet avalanches could be dangerous.

    Example photo of loose snow avalanches on a steep, rocky, sunny slope.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Plenty of cold, low-density snow has been redistributed into dense slabs by shifting winds over the past few days. This has created unusual loading patterns, and you still may able to trigger an avalanche in wind drifted snow on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. Look and feel for firm over weak snow layering, hollow-sounding snow, and cracking at the snow surface. Previously formed wind slabs may also be taking longer to heal with the very cold recent temperatures. Look slope by slope to see if the terrain in front of you could hold a wind slab. Simple clues like textured surfaces and sharp drifts point towards possibly wind-loaded slopes. Be leery of these areas, especially in consequential terrain.

    (2/22/2022)

    Explosive triggered wind slab (D1.5) in Heather Canyon. Failed within the storm snow.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood picked up another 1-3in of new snow during the day Thursday, adding to the 8-16in of settled storm snow from last weekend. Very cold temperatures and shifting winds have kept snow surfaces soft and dry, with very good travel conditions. Recent observations indicate the upper snowpack layers are generally right-side-up and well bonded to the 2/19 crust. In many areas, surfaces snow is loose and cohesionless, but loose dry sluffs haven't entrained much snow or run far downslope. With shifting winds over the past few days, various generations of wind slabs formed on a variety of aspects, but are becoming stubborn to trigger. There is plenty of wind-textured snow in the alpine, but riding conditions are still good. At lower elevations and on steep southerly aspects, many rocks, tree stumps, and other ground hazards are shallowly buried under the recent snow.

Regions covered