Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Additional snow and wind transport maintain dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations. The loading of snow onto lee slopes makes it easy to trigger a large avalanche where terrain steepens to 35 degrees.  At lower elevations, early-season conditions remain a serious travel hazard with rocks, stumps, and creeks veiled by the new snow.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    We're expecting another 5-10" of additional snow to fall Sunday night through Monday. Although winds are gradually easing, they remaining strong enough to transport fresh and recent snow, near and particularly above treeline.  The recent snow (4" at Mt Hood Meadows Base, more likely higher up) fell with a favorable density profile and has likely bonded well to the crusts present prior to the storm. However, 24 hours of strong wind transport destabilizes the storm snow and avalanches can run on the crust. Active drifting, snow surface texture, and cracking as you travel present visual alerts about the problem. You can also feel hollow or punchy snow with your pole.  Once you enter wind-affected terrain, avoid all wind-loaded slopes greater than 35 degrees.

    Example: Cracking of stiff wind slabs.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Due to early season conditions and stormy weather, information is especially limited. Please keep this in mind and dial back your terrain ambitions if the observed conditions on the ground differ significantly from the forecast. If you're out in the snow, share your observations with us and your local backcountry community.

Avalanches will not be your only challenge when navigating in the backcountry on Sunday.

  • Don't forget about the shallow coverage and the risks inherent to early-season travel. NWAC's newest Mt Hood forecaster, Joe Dellaporta, explored travel conditions prior to the storm on Thursday and found a variety of crusts, wind-affected snow surfaces, along with thin low to mid-elevation coverage on Mt. Hood. You can read his full observation here. 
  • Cold-related injuries such as frostbite will be increasingly likely as the temperatures drop. Make sure you're prepared with extra layering in the advent that something goes wrong.

Before you head out the door, remember to check the Uphill Travel Policies of your local Ski Resorts.

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