Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow and extreme wind speeds will make for dangerous avalanche conditions in wind-loaded terrain around Mt. Hood on Tuesday. Focus your attention to blowing snow and wind-textured surfaces to help you steer around problematic slopes. Small, wet avalanche concerns may develop on southerly slopes if the sun decides to make an appearance. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Extreme W/SW winds rapidly build slabs in leeward terrain as precipitation ramps up on Monday evening. Due to these strong wind velocities, slabs may lurk on mid-slope convexities and further down slope than you may anticipate.

    These slabs will range from soft to more stiff depending on your elevation. Look for these slabs to become denser and more consequential as you climb above 6000 ft into more exposed terrain. Blowing snow should be easy to spot on Tuesday, so pay attention to where it's being deposited to help you identify wind loaded terrain. Ripples, dunes, and sharp cornices are all indicators of recent wind transport.  Simple tests like hand shears and small slope cuts can show the bond of wind slabs to the old snow layers.Steer around steep, wind-loaded features especially if you notice shooting cracks, hard over soft layering, or recent avalanche activity. 

    (2/1/2025)

    Blowing snow, fresh drifts, sharp cornices, and rime all point towards wind loading along this ridgeline. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

While the Monday evening/Tuesday morning system won’t be a big snow producer, the strong winds will be the main driver for the avalanche danger. Extreme wind speeds will productively build slabs as new snow accumulates. Another thing to pay attention to on Tuesday will be decreasing cloud cover and potential sun breaks. If the forecast pans out and we pick up 7-10” of new snow and the sun pokes out, expect to see weakening snow surfaces on solar aspects. Rollerballs and pinwheels are obvious clues that tell you that wet loose avalanches may soon follow. 

The snowpack has endured a pretty significant beating from our recent atmospheric river. Lower and middle elevations are in rough shape with rain runnels and wet, punchy snow surfaces. Somewhere around 6000 ft, surfaces become quite firm and boot-supportable. Even if we do get a shot of new snow, expect very firm surfaces on windward aspects and scoured features. Having boot/ski crampons and a self-arrest tool may be a nice addition for more efficient, secure travel. 

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

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