Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Although the likelihood of a large wet avalanche release continues to decrease, the risk lingers. Reduce your exposure to steep or unsupported snow-covered slopes, sagging cornices, and shedding off the upper mountain. Prepare for elevated creek levels, downed trees, and a drastic retreat of the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Even though the rain shuts off by Friday morning, water continues to drain the snowpack. We're less concerned about human-triggered avalanches moving forward, but your focus should be on steep slopes are prone to shed without warning as water continues to run through and drain the snowpack. Pay attention to the slopes around you, particularly above. Be especially leary of slopes connected to larger, upper mountain features where snow may have fallen during much of the atmospheric river (above around 8500-9000 ft). What might this shed cycle look like? A combination of wet loose, wet slab, remnant cornices, snow perching on rocks or above cliffs, and even glide avalanches where smooth rock slabs exist under the lean, early-season snowpack. Any of these would fail without warning and although the likelihood is gradually trending down, the consequence remains.

    These problems start once you have enough snow for avalanches, around 5500 ft on traditionally leeward aspects. With more snow and coverage above 6500-7500 ft, these upper elevations are where you could encounter a large avalanche if you're in the wrong place . 

    Example: Chunks of snow may shed off steep slopes, rocks, and cliffy terrain.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood did not manage to evade the extreme rainfall that has doused the region. Since Monday, 9" of precipitation was recorded at Mt Hood Meadows, bringing the total up to 16" in the last week. Over 90% of this fell as rain at most NWAC forecast elevations. This rain event, unfortunately, washed away much of our middle elevation snowpack with the exception of previously wind-loaded, east aspects that had enough to outlast the drenching. On other terrain, snow coverage is likely limited below 7000 ft, patchy from 7000-7500 ft, and fairly continuous above 7000 ft on all aspects. 

We’re not really sure what to expect to see once the mountains start to gradually come out of the clouds on Friday. If you decide to head out, start your day with a flexible, observant mindset. Expect very rough travel, high creek crossings, and downed trees in some locations. Despite the high freezing levels, you could encounter firm or breakable crusts, or just well-consolidated snow surfaces that soften with a bit of daytime solar radiation.

With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

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