Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

You can trigger small avalanches where the wind drifts new snow.  Watch for pillow-like slabs below areas of blowing snow, sharp drifts, and textured surfaces. A blustery storm will bring moderate snowfall, strong winds, and increasing avalanche danger on Monday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Your best sign of the danger will be natural avalanches or plumes of blowing snow. You can also pay attention to sharp cornices, rippled snow surfaces, and deep drifts to help you identify problematic areas. You can use small test slopes to see how the new snow is bonding to older surfaces. Feel for areas of stiffer snow. If you see signs of instability like shooting cracks, steer away from steep, large slopes.

    The avalanche danger may start out as mostly Low on Monday morning, but may quickly increase by afternoon. A combination of snow, wind, and warming temperatures will make it possible to trigger avalanches at most elevations. You may find isolated and very shallow areas of unstable snow at lower elevations. By Monday night you may be able to trigger avalanches at all elevations with natural avalanches possible on the highest slopes.

    (12/23/2023)

    Patrol triggered a very small (3-5" deep) wind slab avalanche during control work in unsupported terrain. In many places, avalanches were difficult to trigger.  Mt Hood Meadows, NE, 6,600ft.

    Photo: Mt Hood Meadows Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

The current storm could bring up to 8" of snow by late Monday with moderate to strong southwest winds. While precipitation should stay mostly snow above 3,500ft during the day, snow levels will rise after dark. You may find snow levels lower on the east side of the mountain than on the west side. Wet avalanches will be possible at low elevations in the evening to overnight.

On Saturday, Mount Hood Meadows patrol reported 2-4" of new snow that was generally well bonded. In isolated areas, they were able to find drifts up to 12" deep and occasionally trigger small avalanches like the one pictured above. The recent snow will be resting on the old melt-freeze crust in many places. Earlier in the week, observers reported a crust on solar aspects extending to 10,000 ft (observation here), but also dry snow and better ski quality on shaded aspects. 

Lower elevations have struggled to build a meaningful snowpack so far. So watch for shallowly buried objects that could ruin the rest of your season. 

If you get up on the mountain, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation.

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