Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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 avalanches in wind loaded terrain above 6000 ft. Expect these slabs to be larger and more widespread as you climb in elevation. Pay attention to snow stiffness and texture to help you identify where the wind has created slabs. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds are decreasing which should limit fresh slab formation on Monday. The current generation of wind slabs that we’re currently dealing with might feel stubborn, but that may not be the case in all upper-elevation terrain. I would still be suspicious of any steep, leeward slopes above 6500 ft that may hold thicker slabs that could be more consequential if triggered. 

    Blowing snow may not be as evident on Monday, so pay attention to the snow stiffness and surface clues like rippled textures, dune-like drifts, or sharp cornices as clues to help you identify where the problem lurks. These slabs will also often lurk on features that promote drifting like near the top of chutes, beneath rock bands, and on east-facing canyon-walls and moraines. 

    We have seen human-triggered wind slab avalanches as recently as Sunday,  so carefully assess this drifted snow before committing to steeper lines. You can use hand pits or small test slopes to help you gauge the sensitivity of this drifted snow in smaller terrain.  However, these types of tests will only help paint a small part of the picture on larger slopes, so widen your safety margin in bigger terrain until these slabs settle out. Shooting cracks, audible whumphs, and recent avalanches are excellent reasons to seek out more conservative terrain. 

    (2/9/2025)

    On Sunday, a skier triggered this wide avalanche in wind drifted snow. Use caution in this type of terrain on Monday. 

    East aspect around 7000 ft in the White River Canyon. 

Avalanche Discussion

We’re heading into a colder and drier pattern than we have seen in past days. The cool temperatures should help keep the snow light and fluffy on shaded aspects, so continue to watch for loose snow sluffs in steeper terrain or on sun-exposed slopes where the sun may help weaken the surface.

On Sunday, backcountry travelers reported triggering a large avalanche in wind loaded terrain in the White River Canyon. This avalanche was pretty shallow but propagated widely (observation here). The Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol also reported triggering several large avalanches in wind loaded terrain during avalanche mitigation work. Most of these slabs released on E/SE aspects between 6300-7300 ft. 

The January Drought Layer (JDL)  has been a prominent upper snowpack marker and a popular topic of conservation between our backcountry community these past weeks. You can dig down 2-3 ft and find this crust in most locations around Mt Hood. However, we have typically been finding it to be weakest on N-E aspects at lower and middle elevations. While we haven't seen any confirmed avalanches on it, it is worth tracking especially if you head into more data sparse areas like the north side of Mt Hood or further east near Lookout Mountain. Up north in the West and East South zones, we have seen propagating test scores, whumps, and few avalanches on it. 

Regions covered