Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Continued snow transport will build fresh slabs, primarily at upper elevations. Steer around steep slopes with evidence of fresh or recent snow transport. Ensure that you are out of avalanche terrain by nightfall, as heavy rain on snow will create the potential for very large and destructive wet slab avalanches Saturday night.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Winds will continue to drift new snow that falls above the rising 6000-7000 ft snow line on Saturday. Most will be small, but at the highest elevations, they could be large. At these elevations, they could from above a layer of preserved precipitation particles that served as a weakness on Friday. Take care to steer around thicker deposits on the lee side of ridgelines, gullies, and moraines. If winds are transporting large amounts of snow in your terrain, then simply avoid leeward slopes steeper than 35 degrees. On most aspects receiving sunshine on Thursday, expect slabs to overly a thin crust.

    Example: A fresh cornice and blowing snow along Pea Gravel ridge. Look for a wind-loaded slope to the left of the cornice. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Warming and rainfall will be become a problem if it rains more than we expect. Watch for rollerballs as a prelude to shallow fan-shaped movements of surface snow that could catch you unaware on or below a steep slope. These could push you into a terrain trap such as a creek or gully. Also pay attention for blocks of snow shedding of rocks or cliffs on the slopes above you. temperatures warm.

    (3/24/2024)

    Example: Wet loose avalanches with fan shaped debris like you might encounter on Saturday.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday will be windy with shallow amounts of new snow, but moderate blowing snow above the rising snow line. Below that elevation, expect periods of light rain. Most importantly, the rain/snow line will spike as precipitation becomes heavy during the evening hours. Avalanche conditions will rapidly deteriorate as night falls and we expect the potential for large wet slab activity overnight. Budget some extra time at the end of the day to ensure you are away from anywhere that a very large wet slab avalanche could potentially start, stop, or run.

The last significant snow event brought 6-10" of snow accompanied by strong W and WNW winds. While these slabs are now sufficiently stubborn that we don't think you can trigger them, you will still see evidence of this activity in the landscape, although winds have been filling in start zones above 7000 ft.  A very large natural avalanche failed on an E aspect in White River Drainage.  Multiple size 2-2.5 (large) avalanches were triggered by MHM patrol on E and SE aspects, including this one. This activity likely involved the 2/13 interface, which may wake back up Saturday night into Sunday with heavy rainfall.

 On Wednesday, avalanche professionals at Mt Hood Meadows reported one natural, cornice-triggered avalanche and reactive wind drifted snow that released easily with ski cuts. Cornices remain an objective hazard along ridgelines where they can break farther back than you expect and on the slopes below. If they break off with warming temperatures, they remain a threat in their own right or as a potential trigger for wind slabs and wet loose avalanches.

You can contribute to the avalanche forecast! Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation here. 

Regions covered