Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Keep small wet avalanches on your radar if you find a wet, unsupportable upper snowpack. Most recent wet avalanche activity has been small and confined to steep sun-exposed, middle elevations during the heat of the day. Expect firm alpine travel, especially during the early morning hours. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–1.5

    Freezing levels will stay elevated in the 9000 ft range on Sunday evening through Monday, which may limit the overnight refreeze, particularly at middle and lower elevations. In recent days, natural wet loose activity has tapered off, and human-triggered wet loose has been limited to steep sun-exposed, middle-elevation slopes. These same aspects are where I would be thinking about wet loose on Monday.  Monitor your boot penetration from slope to slope, and shift to a shadier aspect or gentler terrain if you sink past your boot tops in wet, mushy snow.

    Continue to exercise caution below sagging cornices and areas with isolated glide cracks, as daytime warming can weaken these hanging chucks of snow. 

    (2/26/2025)

    Wet loose will commonly initiate around rock or cliffbands. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Sunday started firm and fast, thanks to a solid overnight refreeze that created a supportable crust at all elevations. Sun softening was slow to materialize, but folks who timed their descents for the afternoon were likely treated to more enjoyable riding conditions below 8000 ft. This overnight refreeze limited wet loose avalanche activity for much of the day.

While Sunday night will be warmer, a mostly clear night should still allow for an overnight refreeze, especially across upper elevations. This should set the stage for another fast and firm morning of travel. If you head into the alpine, be sure to bring crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, and weigh the consequences of a slip and fall before engaging in steeper terrain. You may also find pockets of dry wind-blown snow at upper elevations or the upper mountain, particularly in complex terrain that faces north and east. It is always possible that these types of terrain features could harbor small, unstable wind slabs. These pockets will often appear as brighter white, smooth, and wind-stiffened. 

Observations from the north side of the mountain have been limited, but conditions look rugged from afar with pockets of old drifted snow, scoured ice, and rain runnels from last week. I also spotted numerous large crowns that likely failed during last week's natural cycle. You will likely continue to find debris piles and old crowns from that impressively stormy week as you move around the mountain in the coming days. Check out the photos in the gallery for a better snapshot. 

Are you heading out? Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here or on the AvyApp. 

Regions covered