Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Don’t overthink this major winter storm. Extreme winds and heavy precipitation will combine to create very dangerous avalanche conditions, especially at mid and upper elevations. Stay away from places where slides can start, run, and stop.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Mt Hood is in for a prolonged period of extreme winds and heavy snowfall beginning Sunday night. No surprise, this storm checks all the boxes for large natural avalanches. These slides will be the deepest and most deadly in spots where the wind piles the snow into thicker slabs. With such high wind speeds, it may be nearly impossible to fully escape the effect of the wind. So, unless you're standing on a scoured crust, anticipate avalanches. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes at mid and upper elevations. 

    Below treeline, the snowpack is rough and beat up, with plenty of bare ground. It will take a bit before enough snow accumulates to pose a real danger. However, these strong winds should easily reach down into the trees and push the snow into deeper slabs. Look for firm drifts and textured surfaces to identify slopes you want to avoid.

    (1/31/2022) Example: Very stormy weather from earlier this winter with blowing snow and significant precipitation building wind slabs.  Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

The Mt Hood area could receive 2-3 ft of snow by Monday afternoon at mid-elevations. This will be a big change from the more modest storms and spring-like weather we've seen over past several weeks. Unfortunately, extremely strong and gusty winds will likely redistribute the new snow into a patchwork of deep pockets and scoured slopes. The new snow will likely fall on a variety of old surfaces including firm crusts, wind textured snow, and old powder. As a result, you may find that the slopes react differently from one area to the next. The shallow Early April Crust should help prevent avalanches from breaking deeper into the snowpack. As a result, we expect all slides to only involve the new storm snow. 

Below treeline, the storm will begin as rain. At these lower elevations, the snowpack should be well situated to handle the water. Eventually, rain should change to snow mid-day Monday as the cold front passes over the mountain. This transition should help the new snow bond well to the old surface.

Regions covered