Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

In steep or unsupported terrain, you can still trigger a dangerous slab. Don't let the shallower active wind loading distract you from the larger day-old deposits on more typical aspects. Ease into the terrain, seeking less wind affected slopes and low-consequential features.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate to strong winds have redistributed over 10" of recent snow into large, burly hard slabs lurk at upper elevations; while touchy soft slabs can be found at middle elevations. Monday's reactivity involved a density interface around 2" above the 2/7 crust. The question is how quickly these deposits will gain strength. We expect them to be stubborn to trigger by Tuesday, but the consequence remains the same.

    Given the strength of recent WSW winds,deposits may lurk near ridgelines, but also well below typical startzones around moraines and even low on canyon walls. Wind-textured surfaces can help you identify wind loaded areas. Don't let Tuesday's SE winds and minor redistribution take your attention off the more significant day-old deposits on typical aspects. Use small test slopes and hand pits to gauge slab reactivity at middle elevation, but don't put weight on this information to assess bigger alpine terrain that may hold thicker, hard wind slabs. These hard slabs can behave in surprising ways and often don’t provide much feedback before they fail. Consider avoiding steep unsupported slopes that show signs of recent drifting. Shooting cracks and hollow-feeling snow are both key indicators that the snow needs more time to settle before you engage with consequential terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

Tuesday will feature much more pleasant weather with widespread thin high cloudcover and light to moderate SE winds. This cloud cover, the breeze, along with widespread wind-affected snow is likely to limit wet loose activity. However, if you do find the snow warming up as the sun's energy makes its way through the clouds, adjust to cooler, shaded aspects.

Several rounds of snow have accumulated 10" of snow (and 2-3" of water equivalent) above the widespread 2/7 crust. The storm cycle has ended on the cooler side with snow levels closer to 4000 ft, while Sunday's snowfall mainly accumulated above 6000 ft. Since Saturday, the Mt Hood area NWAC forecast Joe Dellaporta traveled in the Mt Hood Meadows viscinity on Monday. Active wind transport created touchy slabs that were easy to trigger. Crowns were around 1 ft thick at 6300 ft, but Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol triggered 2 ft hard slabs in upper elevation terrain. Most of the reactivity involved a mid-storm layer about 2" above the 2/7 crust associated with a hardness change. Sunday's notably calm weather likely played in a role in the formation of this lower density snow layer. Evaluate whether this density interface or the 2/7 slab remains problematic in your terrain before engaging with more consequential terrain.

Any accumulation is welcome this season, but keep in mind that many travel hazards still exist across the terrain. Rocks, creeks, trees, and other shallowly buried objects are still prominent through the terrain and could easily exacerbate the consequences of an avalanche. 

We could really use the observations as snow stacks up. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here or on the AvyApp. 

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