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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Forecast updated 07:30 to moderate at upper elevations due to less snowfall than anticipated.

New snow and wind focus the danger on the upper mountain on Monday. While less snow will be available to form drifts at lower elevations, you may still be able to trigger avalanches on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Below 4,500ft, you may encounter moist snow, rollerballs, and even a small wet avalanche. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Multiple reported avalanches on Sunday suggest that wind slabs will remain reactive to human trigger on Monday. The avalanche danger will increase higher on the mountain. Avalanches will be bigger and easier to trigger at upper elevations. Watch for "red flag" warning signs like plumes of blowing snow and cracks that shoot out from your skis, board, or machine. Winds will be out of the southeast. Use your pole or probe to feel for stiffer, deeper drifts. Steer around drifted pillows of snow on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Avoid the most wind-loaded slopes at upper elevations and stick to scoured or wind-protected terrain. 

    (2/4/2024)

    East wind transported snow on the upper mountain on February 4th.

    Photo: Joe Delaporta

Avalanche Discussion

You may encounter rollerballs or even very small wet avalanches below 4,500ft. some snow will accumulate at low elevations by Monday morning before the rain level rises slightly. With strong winds, the more significant hazard could be wind slab avalanches on wind exposed slopes at low elevations. 

On Sunday, observers reported blowing snow and even triggering small wind slab avalanches.The snowpack has transformed over the past week with several inches of rain and warm temperatures. Temperatures have cooled down, but we're left with a rough, variable snowpack. We lost significant snow at lower elevations, leaving us with many open creeks and shallowly buried obstacles to avoid. Fortunately, middle and upper elevations have held more snow, and the snowpack is well-adjusted after several melt-freeze cycles and a prolonged thaw. 

If you head into the mountains, travel cautiously, as you may encounter new hazards (rocks, open creeks, etc) that weren't present last week. 

Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the forecasters at NWAC. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

 

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