Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Updated at 7:00 AM:  Increased danger rating to Considerable for below treeline due to higher precipitation amounts than originally expected. 

With all the new snow, Wednesday will be a good day to take a step back and make conservative decisions. The most dangerous avalanche conditions will exist at mid and upper elevations where over a foot of new snow and strong winds will create fresh slabs.  Despite this storm, early-season conditions still exist below treeline, so travel cautiously while recreating on the snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Since Monday the Mt. Hood area has already received over 25 inches of new snow and a good dose of winds, which created reactive slabs on the lee sides of ridgelines and the upper mountain. Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning yet another storm may bring over a foot of new snow (1 in of SWE) with strong SW winds.  Wind slabs will continue to grow in size and distribution at mid and upper elevations.  These wind slabs may be easily triggered by the weight of a human.  A sudden increase in snow depth or hardness are great indicators that you are traveling on a wind slab.  Be ready to adjust your travel plans once you  start seeing visual clues such as wind drifting snow or notice a different texture of snow underfoot. 

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Air temperatures will rise as snow continues to pile up during the early morning hours Tuesday.  This could form top-heavy slabs of new snow that may be primed for a human trigger on slopes greater than 35 degrees.  Expect these storm slabs to be most reactive in the early morning hours during the heavy periods of precipitation. Steer around slopes if you observe test slopes sliding easily, cracking within the new snow, or hard over soft layering.

    (2/27/2021)

    This is an example of a storm slab, which may be found in below treeline terrain on Wednesday. 

    Photo: Andy Harrington

Avalanche Discussion

Wednesday will be a dynamic day to be traveling in the Mt Hood area.  We may be pushing high danger above treeline if precipitation amounts are exceeded.  When uncertainty exists, be ready to choose simpler terrain. 

On Tuesday,  the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol triggered small, isolated wind slabs and storm slabs while conducting avalanche mitigation work.  They also reported that the new snow was bonding well to the old snow surface with most of the failures occurring within the new snow. Other observers in the Ski Bowl area observed shallow travel conditions below treeline and found a snowpack height of 15-20 inches. On Monday NWAC forecasters traveled in the Timberline area and found a reactive, wind-affected snowpack.  Throughout their travels they observed multiple shooting cracks and triggered small soft slabs on test slopes that were 8-10 inches deep.

Before you head out the door, remember to check the Uphill Travel Policies of your local Ski Resorts.

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