Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Stormy conditions will persist, creating dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations. Below 6000 ft, avoid steeper slopes if you notice wet, sloppy snow or rollerballs shedding under your feet or sled. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Another shot of water (.5-.70 SWE) combined with strong winds will continue to build slabs 1-3 ft deep at middle and upper elevations. These slabs will likely run on a crust buried January 24th. Generally, these slabs will be most dangerous on east-northeast-southeast aspects above 6000 ft. You’ll typically find these slabs on the leeward sides of ridges and moraines, below cornices, and beneath rock and cliff bands. As you travel, pay attention to blowing snow, textured surfaces, and look for pillow-like slabs on the surface to help you identify problematic slopes. You can use small test slopes or quick hand pits to see how reactive these wind deposits are. Fortunately, you can easily avoid this avalanche problem by sticking to more sheltered slopes or by traveling on scoured surfaces. 

    Shooting cracks are obvious signs of instability that you should not ignore. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

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

    This warm pattern will continue to promote wet loose avalanche activity at middle and lower elevations. However, these avalanches will likely be more pronounced at middle elevations, which have seen more fluctuations in precipitation type and temperature. These wet loose avalanches will likely entrain 6-12 inches of newer snow on the recent crust. Keep an eye out for rollerballs and pinwheels, as these are indicators that larger, wet loose avalanches may soon follow. 

    (12/5/2023)

    You could see similar wet loose avalanches on Thursday. 

Avalanche Discussion

The warm and wet pattern continues for the Mt Hood zone. The main story during this pattern has been the drippy, moist travel below 5500 ft and more winter-like conditions above. Wednesday night into Thursday should bring over a half inch of precipitation likely resulting in 6-8 inches of new snow by the end of the day. 

Observations on Wednesday were limited, but a couple of groups found stubborn wind slabs and rollerballs easily initiating at middle elevations below 6500 ft. They also reported decent ‘creamy’ ski quality between 6-7000 ft. Poor visibility and stormy conditions limited observations above this elevation. On Tuesday, skies cleared and the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol reported triggering up to D2-sized avalanches in wind-loaded terrain in Upper Heather Canyon. Some of these avalanches broke up to 3 ft deep and failed on a crust. 

If you head out, be sure to pack the gore-tex and let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

 

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