Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Nearly every exposed slope on Mt Hood has wind redistributed snow above crusts. On lee slopes, most slabs are shallow , a few are deep and stubborn, and in the most wind loaded locations these slabs will remain reactive on Sunday. Steer around steep slopes where winds have piled snow more deeply above the crust, including below cliffs and on the lee sides of gullies.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong to extreme winds brought intense wind transport to Mt Hood since early Friday morning. At middle elevations, scoured aspects feature intense sastrugi, while mostly stubborn slabs on lee slopes generally measure 6-10 inches deep, with pockets up to 2-3 feet in heavily drifted terrain like gullies and below cornices. The potential for large avalanches increases at upper elevations. Recent observations confirm several large natural avalanche crowns on Mt. Hood’s north side, likely releasing within the last 24 hours. This demonstrates the potential for reactivity to linger through the weekend. Suspect locations include below cliffs and on the sides of gullies. Check the bond to the underlying crust at upper elevations where we suspect the recent snow arrived colder.

    In most of the terrain you'll find less than 6" of snow over icy crusts. However steer around the confluence of hard surficial slabs that crack under your planks and slopes steeper than 35 degrees. In some cases, winds may have scoured the upper portions of canyons, blowing the snow well down onto the slopes, perhaps even toward the bottom of canyons.  If a crack propagates widely, it's a strong indicator that a nearby steep slope will slide.

    (1/11/2025)

    Crowns of multiple size two (large) natural avalanches that released on the NE-facing terrain around 8200 ft near Pulpit Rock on the N side of Mt Hood.

    Photo: Brandon Backman

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday morning, a group of four backcountry tourers were involved in an avalanche accident near Kendall Peak in the Commonwealth Basin area of Snoqualmie Pass. Details are still being gathered, but the accident occurred on a SW aspect at 5600ft. All four members were caught and carried. Two were injured. The party called 911 to request assistance. Search and rescue responded to the area and brought the victims to the trailhead.

Middle elevations on Mt Hood picked up 3-7" of snow Friday through Friday night. It's hard to know exactly how much because just about every snowflake in exposed terrain has been hammered by the wind. Sastrugi and buffed out slopes are the norm on Mt Hood with a lot of terrain scoured to crusts. 

Avalanche activity is the best sign of instability, we know that reactive slabs formed during the recent storm. See the photo of the relatively shallow, but widely propagating crowns of two avalanches that released naturally around 8200 ft on the NE side of Mt Hood (photos in the gallery). The recemt proximity of natural avalanche activity suggests that you'd be better served to wait for further stabilization before considering more aggressive terrain at upper elevations of Mt Hood as strong winds continue to buffet the mountain into Sunday morning. 

Friday's system bonded well to prior crusts as it came in as wet snow up to around 6500 ft early Friday. 1-2" of snow sits above a potential breakable crust at lower elevations. 

Mt Hood experienced multiple periods of very high freezing level over the past week, creating crusts that underly the recent snow on all aspects up to 8000 ft. These crusts were intensely firm surfaces above 6000 ft and remain exposed in some areas.

If you get out into the mountains, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation. 

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