Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A small weather system will bring an uptick in avalanche danger on wind loaded slopes above 6000 ft. These slabs won’t be big, but they could push you into unwanted, icy terrain. Minor wet snow concerns may develop on steep, sunny slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    While the new snow amounts won’t be impressive (.3-.4 SWE), strong SW winds will easily redistribute new snow into cohesive slabs. These slabs won’t be that thick, but they may fail easily on the icy surfaces they build over. Look for these slabs to become more prominent as you climb into the wind zone above 6000 ft. Wind slabs typically form on the downwind side of ridges and canyons, below cliffbands, and near the top of gullies or chutes. However, strong winds can often lead to irregular loading patterns, which may make this problem harder to assess and predict.

    Start with your eyes and feel for stiffer pockets of snow as you move through wind-affected terrain. Look for textured drifts, rippled surfaces, and cornice formation as clues of nearby loading. Using small test slopes or quick hand pits can offer great data points for you to gauge slab reactivity. Shooting cracks are obvious signs you found an unstable slab. 

    (1/6/2025)

    An example of cracking in wind drifted snow. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If we hit the upper end of our forecast amounts, you may be able to trigger small wet loose sluffs that run on the underlying crusts. It won’t take much sun for the new snow to roll downhill on solar aspects. Keep an eye out for rollerballs as a precursor to wet loose avalanches. 

    (12/10/2024)

    Sticky surfaces and rollerballs are obvious signs of warming. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Unfortunately, the Sunday evening storm isn’t forecasted to be that big or impactful, but it should be enough to build a new generation of wind slabs in exposed terrain. It may also slightly improve travel on lower-angled, open slopes. However, I'm sure there will still be plenty of firm, scoured surfaces in the alpine terrain that you’ll need to navigate. Consider bringing traction and a way to self-arrest if you climb or ski in steep terrain on Monday. Keep in mind that a few inches of new snow may just act as dust on crust. A small avalanche or a slip in the wrong spot could easily turn consequential with the firm snow surfaces that exist under the new snow. 

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