Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong E-SE winds will quickly build fresh and easy-to-trigger wind slabs on unusual aspects Thursday.  Pay attention to which slopes are being loaded, and avoid steep open wind-loaded terrain, using caution even at lower elevations.  Layer up, frigid temperatures and strong winds will create dangerously low wind chills. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    In this unusual loading pattern, you'll need to watch where the wind is distributing new and recent low-density snow. The usual wind-stripped or windward side of the canyon might be the easiest place to trigger a slide Thursday.  Shooting cracks and, of course, natural or human-triggered avalanches in wind-drifted snow are obvious signs to avoid similar steep slopes.  

    It also may be the type of day where you can trigger shallow, but reactive wind slabs at lower elevations or in terrain you'd usually consider "sheltered".  Don't get caught off-guard by a shallow wind slab on open slopes at lower elevations or even in steep treed terrain.  Getting raked through trees, rocks or other hazards will amplify the consequences of even a small avalanche.    

    Blowing snow will help you decipher which slopes are being loaded. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The storm system on Thursday will feature more wind than snow.  With continued frigid weather, we can expect a little bit of forecasted water to equal several inches of fluffy, low-density snow. This isn't your typical Mt Hood storm day, make sure you have the right layers to withstand the wind chill and to keep warm in case of an emergency.   

The January Drought Layer (JDL)  has been a prominent upper snowpack marker and a popular topic of conservation in our backcountry community these past weeks. You can dig down 2-3 ft and find this weak, sugary snow in most locations around Mt Hood. However, we have typically found it to be weakest on N-E aspects at lower and middle elevations. While we haven't seen any confirmed avalanches on it, it is worth tracking, especially if you head into more data-sparse areas like the north side of Mt Hood or further east near Lookout Mountain. Across the Columbia River and in the West and East South zones, we have seen propagating test scores, whumpfs, and a few avalanches.

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