Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

The recent storm snow will rapidly thaw Wednesday as freezing levels soar to 9500ft and the strong April sun beats down on Mt Hood. You will encounter a variety of dry and wet snow avalanche problems, any of which could grow large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. These are dangerous and unusual conditions; build in a wide margin for error and consider avoiding avalanche terrain altogether.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Wednesday could be a very tricky day with rapidly changing conditions and increasing potential for wet avalanches. The most dangerous conditions will develop on E-S-W aspects in direct sun, but you may encounter wet snow on any slope below treeline by afternoon. Avalanches will run naturally and will be easy to trigger on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. These avalanches may start small and shallow but could grow large and gouge deeper as it continues to heat up. Wet loose slides in motion could even trigger slabs resulting in surprising avalanches. The snowpack will need time to adjust to these dynamic conditions. Choose simple terrain away from large avalanche paths by the time you see rollerballs, pinwheels, and snow shedding from trees, rocks, and cliffs.

    Example photo of loose wet avalanches similar to what we expect on Mt Hood over the next 24-48hr warm-up.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Ongoing snowfall and wind-loading since Sunday built fresh slabs 2-4ft thick. Natural and artificially-triggered avalanches occurred in all elevation bands during the storm, breaking within new snow and on the new/old snow interface (Early April Crust). Some avalanches broke widely across multiple terrain features and grew large. As snowfall and winds tapered off, wind slabs appeared to gain some strength, but these slabs need additional time to settle and stabilize. The warm-up Wednesday adds uncertainty, and cornices could also fall acting as huge triggers on slopes below. Pay attention as you transition into wind-affected terrain, and continue to avoid steep, unsupported slopes with evidence of fresh wind loading. 

    (4/5/2022) MHM Patrol triggered this large slab avalanche with explosives on Tuesday. (God's Wall, NE, 5400ft) Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday will be a jarring transition from winter back to spring. The primary avalanche concern will shift from dry snow to wet snow as it heats up throughout the day. This will not be the average wet loose cycle you usually see on the first sunny days following a storm. These conditions are out of the ordinary, and a very good recipe for avalanches due to:

  • The depth (2-3ft) and cold, low-density quality of new snow
  • 7500ft jump in freezing levels (2000ft rising to 9500ft)
  • Intensity and duration of the sun this time of year

We have a significant amount of uncertainty about how this day will play out. Don’t box yourself in by choosing routes that require you to travel through avalanche terrain to exit. As the warm temperatures increase Thursday, our uncertainty grows and so does the potential for larger and more deadly avalanches. 

Regions covered