Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A slow cool down will lower the likelihood of wet snow avalanches at upper elevations on Wednesday and anywhere you encounter a firm supportable crust.  Continue to steer clear of very steep terrain features where you find wet punchy snow lingering.  Cornices may be melting back, but can still break without warning onto the slopes below. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Cooler freezing levels and a stiff westerly wind will lower the likelihood of wet snow avalanches and cornice failures on Wednesday, especially at upper elevations and in any terrain where you find a firm supportable crust. 

    At lower and mid elevations, another mild overnight and warm-enough day means you still need to worry about wet snow avalanches in specific terrain features.  Wet loose avalanches may be sluggish to initiate on lower angled slopes, but don't be fooled and continue to avoid very steep terrain (steeper than 40 deg) where you find wet, punchy snow.  If you step off your skis, board, etc, and you're surprised how much you sink in, don't engage with complex terrain like chutes, gullies, or steep slopes above cliff bands.   

    Cornices have melted back, but you can still find these sagging, bulky hunks of snow struggling to hang on above ridgelines after several days in the heat. Given their potentially large size and unpredictable failure, they pose a risk to travelers along ridgelines where they can break back further than you'd expect and onto the slopes below.  Continue to give cornices a wide margin for safety.

    (3/7/2024)

    Continue to avoid very steep rocky terrain wherever you find wet punchy snow. 

    Photo: Koby Yudkin

Avalanche Discussion

NWAC forecaster Joe Dellaporta was out on the south side of the mountain Tuesday.  He found firmer and supportive snow conditions above 7000' and signs of limited natural wet loose activity on the upper mountain.  Last week's strong east winds had roughed up the surface at upper elevations, and signs of old wind effect were still visible. Below 7000', the snow became increasingly wet and punchy.  The warmth and consecutive nights of above freezing temperatures were starting to expose rocks along ridgelines and reduce the snow depth at lower elevations and southerly aspects.  Public observations told a similar elevation-based story on Tuesday. 

Observers reported natural avalanches in the Old Chute on the upper mountain on both the 17th and 16th, including one that caught and carried a person. On the 16th, an NWAC observer found wet snow below 7,500ft that became unsupportive at low elevations. 

If you head out, let us know what you find by submitting a public observation here! 

Regions covered