Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

A prolonged and heavy loading event is winding down, but dangerous avalanche conditions remain. Temperatures may be slow to cool over the next 24 hours with continued rain, snow, and wind, and a mix of wet and dry snow avalanches. The potential for very large and destructive avalanches lingers in wind-loaded areas at the highest elevations. Stick to simple low-angle terrain and steer away from runout zones of large avalanche paths. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Expect strong and gusty winds from S-SW to continue to blow snow and load leeward slopes Friday. Mt Hood received 3-4ft of snow January 2-5 before precipitation transitioned to rain with an additional 4in of water recorded at Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area over the past 24 hours. All that rain did damage to the snowpack below 6000ft, but several feet of additional snow likely accumulated above. In wind-drifted alpine areas, avalanches could break deep, wide, and run thousands of feet downslope. These avalanches are becoming less likely with time, but still in the realm of possibilities Friday. As snow levels drop, and rain transitions back to snow, the development of fresh, shallower slabs of wind-drifted snow will increase in distribution throughout the terrain. Give the new and wind-drifted snow additional time to settle and stabilize. Choose slopes less than 35 degrees and minimize your exposure to overhead hazard. 

    (1/1/2022)

    Debris in Clark Canyon from the very large natural avalanche that ran on 12/23/21.  Similar avalanches may have occurred recently.

    Photo: Mt Hood Meadow Ski Patrol

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    The snowpack is saturated below 6000ft, and wet avalanches will continue with additional rain Friday. Trees will continue to drip and shed any lingering snow, along with rocks, cliffs, and buildings. Wet avalanches could still gouge into the snowpack and grow large. Any dry snow avalanche from above could build significant mass as it runs downslope and entrains wet snow. As temperatures cool throughout the day, the likelihood of wet avalanches will decrease, but the snowpack will need time to adjust after all the recent water. Look for wet, unconsolidated snow surfaces, rollerballs, pinwheels, and recent avalanches. If you see these signs, or you experience rain on snow, stick to low-angle terrain.

    (1/6/2022)

    Example of a large (D2) wet loose avalanche with some slab-like characteristics. Tunnels slide Path. Path terminus at Hurricane Ridge Road around 3000 ft.

    Photo: ONP Rangers

Avalanche Discussion

Observations have been limited since January 3rd with highway and ski area closures and difficulty even driving to trailheads. Several wet loose avalanches and roof avalanches were reported at lower elevations, with poor visibility and very little information above treeline.  Even with a lack of observations, the weather inputs from the past 24 hours are enough to have confidence the avalanche warning verified. The Mt Hood Meadows base area weather station recorded extraordinary precipitation rates of ≥0.25in of water equivalent per hour for several hours. The snowpack experienced rapid thaw the past 48 hours for the first time since the winter solstice and it was dramatically altered. After such a major weather event, the snowpack will need time to adjust. Be especially cautious of traveling on or below steep alpine slopes and start zones where several feet of snow accumulated recently and the potential for very large avalanches lingers.

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