Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

You can trigger a large avalanche above treeline in areas where the wind has drifted new snow into large slabs.  Avoid this avalanche problem by sticking to ridges in exposed areas or traveling on terrain that is more sheltered from the wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    As of 5 pm over 7 inches (.76 in swe)  of new snow has fallen on moderate SW winds at Mt Hood Meadows.  Wind slabs will continue to grow in size and distribution tonight as light snow continues and moderate winds become strong during the evening hours. 

    On Friday if you observe blowing snow, expect to find wind slabs near-by.  You will find the largest slabs on the lee sides of ridges, below cornices, and in the alpine.  Don't be surprised if you find these slabs forming further down slopes than usual due to recent high winds.  Tomorrow will be a good day to travel cautiously and give wind loaded slopes greater than 35 degrees a good amount of space. 

    Below treeline, significantly smaller slabs  likely formed, however, they could still be large enough to ruin your day in the wrong terrain.  Leading up to this storm areas of weak surface snow (surface hoar and near-surface facets) existed near and below treeline. Check out my observation to see what conditions looked like before this storm.  There is some uncertainty on if this weak snow stayed intact, so if it did, it's now buried under the new snow.  Check how the new snow is bonding to the pre-existing snow surface.  Use small test slopes and hand pits to gauge how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surface. 

     

    (12/3/2022)

    Actively blowing snow, freshly building sharp cornices, and textured surfaces. All easy-to-identify signs of wind-loading. Look for slabs to develop on the slopes on the left side of the picture.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The storm arrived a little later than forecasted, but the snow is now starting to pile up across the Mt Hood zone.  Observers on Thursday reported limited visibility and winds transporting snow near and above treeline at Mt Hood Meadows.  

Friday will offer a brief break in weather before another stronger, more potent storm follows.  This storm will start moving into the area on Friday evening.  This will bring an uptick in avalanche hazard over the weekend.

Thanks for some of the public observations this past week!  If you get out, please submit an observation on our public observation platform!  These observations play an integral role in producing a quality avalanche forecast, but also help the greater backcountry community.

Regions covered