Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Following a cloudier than expected Thursday, warmer temperatures and mostly sunny skies on Friday afternoon will keep wet snow avalanche problems in focus.  As the snow surface becomes wet and temperatures rise, move to lower angle or shadier slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    As temperatures warm and with more sun expected Thursday afternoon,  triggering a wet loose avalanche should become more likely as the day wears on.  Periods of high clouds in the morning and potentially a stiff breeze in the near and above treeline elevation bands may limit the wet loose potential through mid-day.

    Where you yourself sinking into wet surface snow, change aspects or choose lower angle terrain.  Signs of pinwheels or rollerballs releasing below rock faces will tip you off that the odds of a wet loose avalanche have increased on similar slopes.  Wet snow avalanches that begin small will pick up steam on larger steep sunny slopes.  Take care near terrain traps, even small wet loose avalanches can pack a punch and knock you off your feet. 

    (3/11/2021) Shallow wet loose avalanche that ran far on a ESE slope in Clark Canyon at 6500', est at D1.5. This natural wet loose avalanche likely released Thursday morning before clouds increased or Wednesday afternoon. The slide initiated below rock bands.

Avalanche Discussion

About 3" of recent drier snow overlies a melt-freeze crust on most aspects and elevations.  With temperatures slightly milder heading into  Friday,  the surface snow will become primed for small wet loose avalanches.  On Thursday,  observers noted that convective clouds quickly bubbled up and limited the wet loose avalanche potential from the alpine through lower elevations.  One small natural wet loose avalanche was observed in Clark Canyon.  

The last major storm event ended on February 27th with drier conditions interspersed with light snowfall events for the first 10 days of March.  In the upper snowpack, you can still find a distinct freezing rain crust buried 2/22.  This layer was the last interface that larger avalanches released down to in the Mt Hood area towards the end of February and the first days of March.  

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

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