Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year.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 storm will bring more wind than snow to Mt Hood on Tuesday. Steer around steep open slopes at upper elevations where you find freshly drifted snow.  If you find lingering wet punchy snow at lower elevations, use caution around extreme terrain features and terrain traps. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    This storm looks pretty pitiful by Mt Hood standards, but a few inches of new snow and strong winds can quickly drift and build new wind slabs on this volcano.  Probe for wind-stiffened snow and watch for shooting cracks as you travel. Use small test slopes to gauge the bond of the new snow to the latest surface crusts.  Wind slabs are more likely to form at upper elevations, but keep an eye out at middle elevations if the storm is stronger than forecast. 

     

    (2/25/2025)

    Uptrack test shows cracking in wind drifted snow. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

On Monday, the weather was a tale of two mountains: drippy, cloudy, and wet conditions on the south and west side and partly to mostly sunny conditions with the odd shower on the east side. Timberline picked up 2" of new snow through Monday morning with just a skiff in the Mt Hood Meadows area. Breezy NW wind were starting to ease as of Monday afternoon.  No new avalanches were reported on Monday. 

A wet and warm storm cycle wrapped up early last week and we transitioned to a drier but continued mild weather pattern through the first half of the weekend with some light rain and snow on Sunday.  Surface crusts are likely thicker at upper elevations and likely thinner and less supportable at mid-elevations.  

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