Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

It remains possible for you to trigger large avalanches in wind-drifted snow in exposed terrain. Look for signs of instability and ease into the terrain slowly before skiing or climbing on wind-loaded features. Move to less steep or shadier slopes once you notice rollerballs or wet, gloppy snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    The calm weather is helping the wind slabs heal up. These may be a little tougher to trigger on Wednesday, but the avalanche size could be large. Carefully assess the reactivity of these wind slabs before committing to larger, wind-loaded features. You can use small test slopes or hand pits to gauge the reactivity of the slabs. On Mt Hood, you'll typically find these slabs on the lee-side side of ridges and canyons, below cornices, and beneath rock and cliff bands. Blowing snow has been minimal, so look for textured drifts and pillow-like slabs to help you identify recently loaded slopes. Pull back from wind-loaded features if you notice shooting cracks, hollow-sounding snow, and hear whumphing.

    This past week, we have observed several very large avalanches in heavily loaded alpine terrain above 7000 ft. Most of these avalanches occurred during the storm cycle from extreme loading, but some featured wide propagation, which hints at some persistent grain as the culprit. While a human triggering an avalanche on a deeply buried weak layer is unlikely - it doesn't mean a large trigger like a cornice or rock/ice fall can't. 

    (3/4/2024)

    Wind-loaded pockets were touchy on Monday. Using test slopes like this can give you valuable information.

     

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

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

    The intense March sun will moisten snow surfaces on E-S-W facing slopes as the day heats up. With this solar influence, you may start noticing some rollerballs and wet loose avalanches as the day progresses. Pay attention to rollerballs, pinwheels, rime shedding, or trees releasing snow as a sign that wet loose avalanches could soon follow. Default to shadier slopes if you notice these signs. 

    Loose Dry Avalanches

    In more sheltered, steep terrain, dry, loose avalanches could still run. These likely will be less of an issue on Wednesday, but it is worth considering if you plan to ski or climb in steep terrain on shaded northerly aspects. 

    (4/15/2023)

    An example of a small wet loose avalanche. 

    Photo: Ryan Matz

Avalanche Discussion

Quiet, calm weather is forecast for the Mt Hood area on Wednesday. It should be a pleasant day for mountain travel with good snow quality on many shady slopes. Since we're coming out of a prolonged stormy period with minimal observations, we have uncertainty regarding upper elevation weak layers and the potential reactivity above 7000 ft. If you plan on traveling at these elevations, be ready to make your own observations and give yourself a wider buffer before jumping into steeper terrain. The snowpack is healing up, but that doesn't mean you can't find a lingering reactive slab on wind loaded features on the upper mountain. 

Last week featured stormy conditions and big avalanches. The Mt Hood region made significant gains, adding over 7 ft of new snow to our snowpack. We're now sitting at 108% of normal at the Mt Hood Meadows snow plot. 

Active weather usually brings active avalanche activity as well. We received multiple reports from the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol about two separate, back-to-back D4's that ran well into Heather Canyon. They also reported an artillery-triggered D3 on Monday, March 4th. This avalanche broke 10 ft deep and occurred on a NE aspect at 7300 ft. You can check out the photos in the gallery. 

While the new snow is likely settling out, still keep Deep snow immersion/tree wells (SIS) in mind while traveling through forested terrain. Ride with a partner and keep one another within sight.

You can add to the avalanche forecast. Submit your observation here.

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