Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The Mt Hood area won't experience the same cooling trend as areas further north.  This means you could still trigger a wet loose avalanche on steep slopes where you find wet punchy snow.  Cornices have been weakened after several days and nights of above freezing temperatures.  Avoid hanging out below slopes with large overhanging cornices.  

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche should be relatively lower than previous days, but should still influence how you travel and what signs of instability to look out for.   In areas where you find several inches of wet snow above a crust, wet loose avalanches may easily slide in steep, unsupported terrain.

    In isolated areas near and especially above treeline, wet loose avalanches could become large by gouging deeper into the snowpack and run further than you expect.  When you find wet sticky snow or see new avalanches, dial it back and stay off of and out from under steep slopes. 

    Cornices have been weakened after several days of mild weather.  They can fail at any time and trigger avalanches on the slopes below.  Until cornices melt back or we have a solid refreeze, minimize your exposure to slopes with large overhanging corncies. 

    Example photo of a shallow but far-running wet loose avalanche on Pea Gravel Ridge.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures were finally beginning to fall into the 30s on Wednesday afternoon as a weak front that brought more wind and clouds than precipitation moved through the area.  No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday, but over the last few days, several recent natural avalanches were observed up to D2 including cornice-fall triggered wind slabs and wet loose avalanches on easterly aspects in White River Canyon between 5800-7400ft. Shallow, but long-running wet loose avalanches were also visible on the east face of Mt Hood in steep rocky terrain above the Newton Clark Glacier. 

Last weekend, 8-15 inches of cold dry snow accumulated with the highest totals on the south and west sides of Mt Hood.  While we've passed the period of peak natural avalanche activity, keep in mind that areas and elevations that received more recent snow can produce larger wet snow avalanches.   

Regions covered