Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Falls may be consequential where your find widespread firm crusts that may not soften on Monday. Make sure you know can arrest a fall before crossing an icy slope.

Avalanche Discussion

Several days of sunshine and very mild temperatures brought springtime back to Mt. Hood over the weekend (yes, we know it's still February!). Observers on Sunday reported a thin, stable snowpack. They found snow surfaces softening, but no wet avalanches by the time they left the field.

8-10" of snow fell early last week. Windy conditions through Saturday formed slabs that may still be 1 ft deep and potentially still reactive above NWAC forecast terrain where rime crusts were present above 8500 ft. No slab avalanches have been reported since Wednesday.  In some areas, winds have exposed the 1/30 rain crust up to 7000 ft. This layer presents the greatest hazard for uncontrolled falls. In other areas that saw direct sunshine over the weekend, melt-freeze crusts atop last week's snow may be supportable or breakable. Strong winds and cloud cover will likely maintain firm crusts on Monday. Make sure you have appropriate tools to navigate the slopes you travel. Icy conditions led to numerous falls and multiple rescues on the upper mountain over the past week, and several snowmobilers lost control on the slick surfaces at Skyline and Frog Lake SnoParks with accidents and severe injuries reported. Keep your guard up - snow surfaces are variable out there and can change rapidly with aspect and elevation.  

If winds relent, the sun comes out, or rain falls on snow, surfaces could soften and you could get small wet loose avalanches. Rain on snow might increase the hazard on previously dry northerly aspects. Note any signs of rollerball activity, recent avalanches, or sticky/slushy snow above your ankle to give you the cue to seek slopes under 35 degrees.

Several additional non-avalanche hazards are worth having on your radar while winter takes a break:

  • Rockfall continues to originate from steep bluffs that have been melting out.
  • In shallower snowpack areas, rocks and dirt present a hazard just below the snow surface while many ridgelines and steep south-facing slopes have bare patches.
  • Creeks are flowing at lower elevations and may be hazardous to cross.

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