Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Small "shed" style wet avalanches will renew with sunshine and very warm temperatures on Sunday. Pay attention to areas of ankle-deep wet, sloppy snow where cornice fall, serac fall, or a human could initiate a slide. These avalanches will gain enough speed and size to injure you on a long steep slope.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Warm, mostly sunny weather combined with a poor overnight refreeze keeps the shallow shed cycle going on Sunday. At lower, middle, and possibly even upper elevations, expect a very superficial overnight refreeze.  Once the sun hits slopes most crusts will quickly break down and you'll sink into saturated wet snow. Use a boot, pole, or probe to check the depth of this unconsolidated layer. Prepare to adjust your aspect, seeking more supportable surfaces or reduce your terrain selection to terrain less than 35 degrees. 

     

     

    (4/13/2024)

    A small serac fall triggered a size 1.5 wet loose avalanche on the north side of Mt Hood. Coe Icefall.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood has experienced multiple rounds of warm temperatures, a 5-day warming trend starting Wednesday, and light rain to at least 8000 ft Friday evening. While it will be quite warm on Sunday, after 5 days of slowly warming temperatures (and other warm-ups earlier in the spring), the shift is not dramatic. Most of the snowpack has probably experienced the impact of warm temperatures or water, but slightly more uncertainty lies at upper elevations on the north side of Mt Hood. While a rime ice event early last week largely locked up the upper mountain snowpack on the south side of Mt Hood, that may not be the case on the mountain's north side. A serac fall on the north side of Mt Hood (Coe Icefall) triggered a size 1.5 avalanche. There may be more wet snow available for transport on north-facing slopes above 8000 ft given that this snow was recently dry. The size of the Coe Icefall wet loose avalanche was within our expectations, but evidence of anything larger might indicate that the snowpack in a particular area is struggling to adjust. Take the warning sign and limit your exposure to long slopes over 35 degrees.

Remember that warmth and water weaken the snow surfaces, but also snow bridges, and cornices as well.  Take appropriate precautions and travel early if your route involves actively glaciated terrain.

On Saturday morning, rime ice on the upper slopes of Mt Hood remained firm with a patchwork of shallow wind-affected snow above it. Be prepared for slick travel by packing your crampons and ice axe so that you can safely arrest a fall if the surfaces don't soften. Middle elevations transitioned to corn by mid morning, and snow conditions were getting sloppy below 6000 ft.  Similar conditions were reported at these various elevation bands on Thursday and Friday.

Lower elevations are starting to melt out as indicated by exposed dirt under tree wells and rocks becoming a more present danger. 

This is the last avalanche forecast for the 23/24 season. NWAC will continue issuing mountain weather forecasts each afternoon at 2:30 pm through April 28. We’d like to thank each of you for reading and using these forecasts to make informed safe decisions and for contributing to your community by submitting observations. Please continue to help support your backcountry friends by letting others know what you find in the mountains. Have a wonderful spring and summer! ~Joe, Robert, and Dennis

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