Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The sun may come out, but avalanche conditions will remain dynamic. Strong wind distribution may maintain sensitive wind slabs that could be easily triggered by the weight of a skier or climber. Periods of clear skies and strong April sun will also drive wet snow instabilities, with the potential for natural wet avalanches during sunnier stretches. With overlapping avalanche problems, have a plan that allows you to easily move to lower-angle or shaded terrain if you don’t like what you’re seeing. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Partly sunny skies will allow the strong April sun to leave its mark on steep, sunny slopes. Look for sticky, wet snow surfaces to form on these sunny slopes as the day heats up. Some of these wet loose could grow large and run far on the underlying crust in bigger terrain features. 

    It may not take much sun or warming at the snow surface for the new snow to react. Pay close attention to rollerballs, pinwheels, or sticky snow surfaces as these could be precursors to larger, wet loose avalanches. Head for a shadier slope if you see these signs of warming. 

    (4/15/2026) Photo: Joe Dellaporta

    An example of a small wet loose that was triggered in steep lower elevation terrain on Wednesday. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Precipitation rates will relax on Wednesday night, but strong NW winds will continue to drift recent accumulations and may maintain reactive slabs in upper and some middle elevation terrain. Wind slabs may fail within mid-storm interfaces or break on a stout crust that likely sits 1-3 feet below the surface on wind-loaded features. 

    Look for these drifts to be most prevalent on the downwind sides of ridges and saddles, below cornices, and near rocky complex terrain. Blowing snow, wind-rippled surfaces, and sharp cornices are clear indicators that wind slabs may lurk on slopes nearby. You can use small test slopes to help you gauge slab reactivity on smaller slopes, but these may not provide reliable feedback on bigger alpine slopes that may harbor thicker wind slabs. Shooting cracks, active blowing snow, or recent avalanche activity are clear red flags to keep slope angles in check.

    (3/5/2026)

    An example of rippled snow surfaces and sharp drifts in wind drifted terrain. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The storm wasn’t as strong as forecast, but weather stations still picked up 11-15 inches of new snow (1.2 + SWE)  that fell over a widespread crust as of Wednesday evening. Backcountry travelers and avalanche professionals near Mt. Hood Meadows reported plenty of wind transport and stiff slabs in more exposed terrain. They also reported the intermittent sun-breaks stiffening up surfaces and triggered small, wet loose avalanches on steep slopes below treeline. 

Precipitation is forecast to taper off on Wednesday evening, but avalanche conditions will remain dynamic as strong NW winds continue to drift new snow into thick slabs. On sun-exposed slopes, the strong April sun will undoubtedly kill good riding conditions and create wet-snow instabilities that may be primed for human or even natural triggering. You’ll have to manage both dry and wet snow avalanche problems, depending on aspect and timing. Take your time making and processing observations, and pick less consequential or simpler terrain to reduce uncertainty. 

If you plan to head to Mt Hood Meadows or Ski Bowl for uphill use, please remember these ski areas are now closed for the season and avalanche mitigation is longer being conducted. Treat this terrain like a backcountry snowpack and carry avalanche rescue gear.  

Are you heading out? You can help the forecast staff and backcountry community out by submitting your observation here or on the AvyApp.

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