Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

With recent snow and wind, you could trigger shallow slab avalanches where you see fresh drifts of snow. A chance for partial clearing could melt the surface snow. If the sun comes out, watch for small wet avalanches on steep, sunny slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Watch for small pockets of shallowly drifted snow on the leeward sides of ridges. Shifting wind directions mean that you need to look for local wind-loading patterns. You may be able to trigger small slab avalanches near the tops of ridges and terrain features. To stay safe, steer around drifts or stick to scoured or lower angle terrain.

    3-6 inches of snow accumulated on Monday. By Monday afternoon, drifts were up to 8 inches deep and had formed from westerly wind. the snow bonded decently to the old firm, snow surface. We expect roughly another 2 inches of snow and a shift in wind direction. 

    Example: Actively blowing snow should help you identify specific slopes where wind deposits are growing and likely more reactive. 

    Photo: Kyle Hornor

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    If the sun comes out, small wet avalanches could run on steep, sun-exposed slopes. Watch for rollerballs and moist snow surfaces as warning signs. Time your day and have a backup plan to move to shadier or lower angled slopes if necessary. Use caution in very steep terrain and around terrain traps like cliffs and gullies, where small wet avalanches could be dangerous.

    (2/13/2022) An example of a wet loose avalanche from the Stevens Pass zone. Photo: Irene Henninger

Avalanche Discussion

Firm crusts will be exposed where scoured on windward aspects. These slick slopes could make travel challenging. Bring the necessary equipment to travel safely and arrest a fall.

The last significant storm brought 8-10in of snow from January 30 to February 2. Since then, warm, sunny days and clear nights created melt-freeze conditions on sun-exposed aspects. Rainfall, wind, and long periods of unseasonable warmth and sunshine result in variable underlying bed surfaces for the new snow. Surfaces may be runneled or sun-cupped in many areas. Rime ice has been frequently observed and remains slick above approximately 7000 ft.  Older firm surfaces may be grayer than the whiter new snow, so anticipate these variable riding conditions as you move through the terrain. Many wind-scoured and sun-exposed ridgelines have melted out to bare ground with blowing dust accelerating the melt of nearby snow. Travel cautiously in these areas as rocks may be shallowly submerged or exposed and recent rockfall has littered some slopes with rocks on top of the recent crust. Creeks may also be thinly bridged or exposed.

Regions covered