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

Cooling temperatures should limit wet loose avalanche activity, but it may not fully eliminate this hazard as the surface crust breaks down with daytime warming.  Start thinking about wet avalanches on slopes that lack a crust or if you sink past your ankles in wet, sloppy snow. Firm surfaces and long, sliding falls may be your most significant hazard in steep, upper-elevation terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The snowpack is just wet and weak enough that we’ll need another cold night before we completely eliminate this problem below 7000 ft. While temperatures are cooling, overnight clouds and rainfall may keep the upper snowpack wet and mushy for another day until we see more solid refreeze. Increasing solar input during the day should help break down surfaces and potentially reinvigorate wet snow instabilities on solar slopes below the freezing line.  The most likely places to see this wet snow action would be near radiators such as cliff bands, rock features, and confined gullies that can trap heat. 

    As the day heats up, watch for wet snow surface development and deep boot penetrations as clues of a weakening snowpack. If you’re sinking past your boot top in wet snow, it's time to move to more shaded terrain or lower-angled slopes. 

    Cornices are large and have been weak over the past few days. Continue to keep a wide buffer between you and these overhanging chunks of snow. 

    (3/21/2021)

    Wet loose avalanches often initiate where snow sheds off rocks and trees onto the slope below. Note that there are both small rollerballs and wet loose avalanches in this image. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

One last small system should bring more rain than snow to Mt. Hood on Thursday night. With this system, look for freezing levels to take a sharp drop as well. By the morning, freezing levels will be in the 5000 ft range and should increase upwards of 6000 ft during the day. With that, expect lots of firm surfaces at upper elevations, especially during the morning. Some steep solar aspects may soften with daytime warming, but it will be a game of aspect and timing. 

I suspect we'll wake up to some firm surfaces in alpine terrain on Friday morning. When snow surfaces become firm or icy after a freeze or rain event, a simple slip can quickly turn into an uncontrollable slide-for-life. We’ve seen it many times here on Mt Hood. Come prepared with a mountaineering mindset and bring crampons, an ice axe, and the ability to move over firm snow to help prevent a long, sliding fall. 

The forecast season is winding down.  The last avalanche forecast of the season will be issued on Saturday, April 12th, at 6:30 PM.  After April 12th, mountain weather forecasts will continue and be published at 2:30 PM daily until April 27th. 

Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here. 

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