Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Generally safe avalanche conditions are expected Friday, but continue to use caution on steep slopes near rocky terrain if the snow becomes wet and mushy.  You'll find a variety of snow surfaces on the mountain, including the firm and icy kind.  Make sure you have the tools to arrest a slip and fall.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Despite continued mild overnight temperatures, generally clear skies should support a nightly refreeze of the snow surface.  The terrain where you could trigger a wet loose avalanche is shrinking as we march ahead in this persistent mild pattern.  The snow surface may not soften very much at upper elevations that were heavily wind-affected before the warm-up.  Continue to use caution around extreme features, like very steep slopes below sun-soaked cliffs and rock bands, where the snow is receiving additional heating and there's a higher likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche. 

    Don't let a small slide take you for a ride near terrain traps, like open creeks,  above trees, and cliffs, all places a small avalanche would do outsized damage.  

    (1/13/2026)

    Rollersballs were shedding near rocky terrain in White River Canyon on Tuesday.  Cliffy terrain like this is a common place to see the first signs of warming on warm and clear days.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

What month is it?  Our January mild and dry weather looks to continue for some time with only subtle weather and snowpack changes through next week as freezing levels have settled in ~13,000'.   The snowpack is starting to resemble something you’d see in April rather than January. Many sun-exposed slopes have been exposed to significant sun and warming by this point with sevearl melt-freeze cycles.  Some higher elevation and shady aspects that previously held dry snow have also formed a thin melt-freeze crust.  

With refreezing surfaces producing a variety of snow conditions, including firm, icy surfaces, it's time to consider long, sliding fall hazards on the Cascade volcanoes, particularly in the early morning hours.  Wind scoured areas above treeline with firm icy old snow are prime suspects to tread lightly around. Before crossing steep icy slopes, make sure to have the proper traction and be ready to self-arrest a fall. 

Before our warm-up, 20-30 inches of snow fell over the stout January 3rd crust.  We saw a few large to very large natural avalanches that likely ran on or above this crust during the stormy period on Jan 6th-8th. Since the storm ended, avalanche activity was mainly confined to wind-drifted terrain. The upper snowpack remains heavily wind-affected. Backcountry travelers are generally finding a strong, well-bonded snowpack to the underlying January 3rd crust.

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