Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You can still trigger an avalanche in exposed alpine terrain, specifically in places that hold wind-textured slabs. Carefully evaluate features that promote drifting, such as the downwind side of ridges, steep unsupported alpine slopes, or near the break-over of chutes and couloirs on the upper mountain. To avoid loose wet sluffs, move away from sunny slopes as the surface thaws.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You’ll find stubborn, lingering wind slabs above 7,000 feet on Saturday. Since Thursday, observers have reported numerous large avalanches, both natural and explosive triggered, in heavily wind-loaded alpine terrain. While most of these have been shallow (1-2 ft deep), some had impressive propagation. These slabs won’t be easy to trigger, but the resulting avalanche could be large. 

    Common places you’ll encounter these slabs are on the leeward side of ridges, on the breakover of unsupported slopes, on alpine couloirs, and under rock and cliff bands. Hollow-sounding drifts, shooting cracks through stiff or textured surface snow, and the snowpack collapsing under your weight are warnings that you have found unstable wind slabs. Assess recently drifted snow carefully before committing to steep wind-drifted terrain.

     

    (2/23/2024)

    We observed this avalanche on Friday morning. It occurred on a SE aspect at 10,700 ft adjacent to the Old Chute. We're unsure when it failed, but likely sometime late Thursday or early Friday. 

    SS-N-R2-D2-U

    Note: This avalanche is above NWAC's upper elevation band.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

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

    We’re in for another day of 7000 ft freezing levels and mostly sunny skies, so look for weakening wet snow on sunny slopes. This problem will be most evident on middle-elevation slopes that are still transitioning from dry to moist. Sticky surfaces, rollerballs initiating, rime and rockfall shedding are all clear indicators that wet loose avalanches could soon follow. 

    Look for signs like this to help you identify what slopes are getting wet and weak. 

    (2/22/2024) Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday will feature increasing winds and clouds but should still offer some filtering sun, especially during the first half of the day. I assume many people may push into upper mountain terrain to seek out good turns and pleasant travel conditions. However, remember that these upper elevations are where we have seen the most recent avalanches and have the greatest uncertainty. Some of these avalanches occurred as recently as late Thursday/early Friday.

On Friday, NWAC forecasters traveled on the south side of Hood and observed a large avalanche on West Crater Rim (10,700 ft SE aspect). While this avalanche occurred above NWAC's upper elevation band, it's notable since it had fairly wide propagation and occurred adjacent to a high-traffic slope. On Thursday, the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol also reported triggering numerous large (D2) avalanches in wind-drifted snow. Most of the reported avalanches occurred on the break-over of unsupported slopes, under cliff bands, and within gully features on the east side of the compass above 7000 ft. These are the slopes I would travel cautiously around on Saturday. 

Warm temperatures and wet snow have nearly reached 7500 ft. With this, prepare for a crust at the surface at lower/mid elevations, and steep upper elevation solar slopes.

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