Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

You'll have to manage overlapping dry and wet snow avalanche problems Thursday.  Wind slabs will be thicker on steep lee slopes at upper elevations.  Anywhere you find wet heavy snow,  steer clear of very steep slopes especially near terrain traps. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You'll find denser wind-affected snow from Wednesday's storm at mid and especially upper elevations. Fresh wind slabs layered over a new crust (2/21) at mid-elevations and likely E-S-W aspects at higher elevations.  Look for shooting cracks and use small test slopes to check the bond of new snow to the old snow/or underlying crust.  Wind slabs will be deeper and more consequential at upper elevations.  Steer around large open slopes steeper than 35 degrees with obvious signs of wind loading.  You can stick to wind-scoured areas or lower angle terrain to avoid the problem. Don't drop your guard if the new snow seems stubborn or unreactive on test slopes at mid-elevations; wind slabs may be easier to trigger at upper elevations where temperatures stayed colder during the storm. 

     

    (2/21/2024)

    Look for cracking in fresh wind-drifted snow Thursday to help determine which aspects have been wind-loaded.  Example from Timberline area Wednesday. 

    Photo: Robert Hahn

  • Loose Wet

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

    Milder temperatures and sunshine following new snow are a recipe for wet loose avalanches.  It's all about your terrain selection to stay safe and manage this problem.  If you find wet heavy snow on any elevation or aspect,  avoid very steep terrain near or above terrain traps like cliffs, dense trees or open creeks. These slides can be more powerful than you expect and cause serious consequences in the wrong terrain.  

    Natural wet loose avalanches may release below cliff bands and on very steep sunny slopes.  Look for these as well as rollerballs and pinwheels as red flags pointing to increasing instability.  You can change aspects, shift to lower angle terrain, and be aware of the terrain above you to safely navigate this problem. 

    (2/21/2024)

    Ex: If you see fresh pinwheels or wet loose avalanche debris, it's time to avoid similar steep slopes. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mountain Ascents

Avalanche Discussion

Several inches of moist snow piled up on Wednesday during heavier showers and moderate to strong WSW winds. Professionals in the Timberline area were able to trigger shallow wind slabs averaging about 6" but up to 1' deep above a new crust on Wednesday afternoon.  As they traveled into the upper elevation band, they observed shooting cracks in freshly drifted snow and wind-scouring along windward ridges.  

NWAC forecasters and Mt Hood climbing rangers were in the Vista Ridge area on the N side of Mt Hood Tuesday.  They observed significant wind transport and blowing snow above 6500' that increased on the upper mountain as well as touchy shallow wind slabs.  The snow was heavy and moist below 6000' with evidence of older rollerballs and wet loose avalanches.  They found 2-3ft of well-settled and bonded snow at mid-elevations above the early February crust (EFC) on this side of the mountain.  In isolated  areas, a layer of weak snow grains was found above the EFC.  We don't expect any avalanches down to the EFC, but it's worth tracking with more impactful weather likely next week.  

Over the last week, a steady stream of small storms and varied wind directions gradually piled up about 2ft of snow since 2/14 and built wind slabs on a variety of aspects.  Several human triggered wind slab avalanches were reported over the past few days, and one large explosive-triggered slab avalanche by Mt Hood Meadows patrol on Sunday 2/19 (see gallery below). 

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