Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Active or recent wind transport will be the key ingredient for a slab avalanche on Wednesday. Expect a notable increase in unconsolidated surface snow along with slab size and reactivity as you ascend from 5000 to 6000 ft. If windward sides of ridgelines are scoured to a crust, steer around steep lee slopes where stiffer deposits of snow thicker than 6" may lurk.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Although new snow has improved conditions at middle and upper elevations. There's now ample snow to form small slabs you can trigger, particularly at upper elevations where the greatest hazard exists.  Mt Hood Meadows patrol reported 4-6" of snow above 6000 ft and 1-3" of snow below that elevation. On the south side of the mountain, that snow arrived with little wind (although we are less sure about the other sides of the mountain). By Wednesday morning, you might find a few inches of additional snowfall. The key ingredient for avalanche danger will be the wind and with multiple waves of precipitation arriving over the next 24 hours, each one brings a chance for snow transport. Look for visual clues of active or recent wind transport. These include blowing snow and freshly formed pillow-like drifts. You can also feel the slabs on small test slopes, looking for stiffer snow above lower-density snow sitting upon a crust. You're most likely to find and trigger wind slabs on the leeward sides of ridges and moraines, below cornices, and under rock and cliff bands. You may also see wind deposits near the tops of chutes and couloirs.  Identify and avoid lee slopes 35 degrees and steeper where you suspect a slab 6" or deeper may be found.

    Consider the consequences of a small avalanche in the wrong terrain, you don't want to get raked through early-season obstacles like rocks, trees, and open crevasses. 

    (12/31/2023)

    Anticipate areas of wind-stiffened snow before they catch you unsuspecting on a steep slope. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood picked up around 0.3" of water along with short periods of intense snowfall during the mid-day hours. Clouds limited observations above the treeline. A few more inches of snow may arrive Tuesday night with light to moderate winds. Wednesday could feature clouds and snowfall in the morning, with a chance of sun breaks during the mid-day hours, then winds ramping up as clouds and perhaps snowfall returns late in the day. If the sun does come out, rollerballs are your cue to stay out from under steep slopes receiving direct sunshine where snow could shed off rocks and cliffs.

 The new snow is just deep enough to cover up many of the recently exposed obstacles and doesn't have enough density to shield you from the impact. The snow either sits above wind-affected dense snow from last weekend or crusts. It's worth testing the interface if you travel in wind-sheltered areas where you might be able to find a weaker interface; reactive on small test slopes is your cue to void open slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

Travellers found enjoyable conditions on the upper mountain on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, wind slabs were touchy with several shallow wind slab avalanches reported at upper elevations including just below Crater Rock.   On the first day of 2024, the winds had subsided and wind slabs were healing and becoming less likely to trigger. No new avalanches were reported on Monday, and that includes an absence of small wet loose avalanches despite the milder temperatures and lighter winds. 

On Saturday, NWAC observers traveled to the Tilly Jane area in the rain shadow of Mt Hood. They observed little snow cover until 5500ft.  Snow became deeper above this elevation but remained wet and shallow until almost 7000ft.  Above 7000ft they found 1 inch of new snow on a stout melt-freeze crust.  

Backcountry winter recreation on snow is limited to middle and upper elevations at this point. While on the snow, watch for shallowly buried objects such as rocks, creeks, and thinly bridged or even open crevasses. These hazards can exacerbate the consequence of a long fall or small avalanche. 

Avalanche forecasting is a community effort. Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

NWAC may issue a gray "No Rating" for an elevation band when there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard.

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