Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow and very strong winds will increase avalanche danger on wind-loaded slopes. Fortunately, this storm will give you plenty of clues to help you anticipate areas you want to avoid. Look for signs such as blowing snow, fresh cornices, and textured surfaces to help you identify problematic slopes.

Dangerous avalanche conditions may develop in wind-loaded areas at upper elevations during the afternoon hours. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Very strong WSW winds will productively move new snow and form fresh wind slabs on leeward slopes. These wind slabs are expected to grow in size as the day progresses and may grow large enough to cause a problem by the afternoon hours.

    You won’t have to go far to notice blowing snow on Friday. You may even see it from the parking lot elevations. You can use these visual clues to help you identify slopes to avoid. Pay attention to where the snow is blowing and surface clues like fresh cornices, dunes, and pillow-like slabs to help you identify problematic areas. Step back and avoid all loaded slopes if you notice shooting cracks or recent avalanche activity. 

    Look for signs of blowing snow like this, to help you anticipate where the avalanche problem lives. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Finally, new snow in the forecast! You may be stoked to head out Friday, but just be ready for a day of increasing avalanche danger. The start of the morning may be dry, but look for new snow to start piling up as the morning progresses. New snow will accompany very strong winds, easily moving snow into leeward start zones, resulting in more dangerous avalanche conditions during the afternoon. 

If you went out Thursday, you likely encountered a mixed bag of conditions out there. Observers reported a crust on solar aspects extending to 10,000 ft (observation here), but also dry snow and better ski quality once they changed aspects. Once the sun came out, they even reported spring-like snow on sunny aspects below 7000 ft. 

Lower elevations have struggled to build a meaningful snowpack so far. So watch for shallowly buried objects that could ruin the rest of your season. 

If you get up on the mountain, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation.

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