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

The most likely place to trigger a large avalanche on Sunday will be in wind drifted terrain. Some of these wind-stiffened slabs may stay sensitive to the weight of a human or machine, so steer around steep slopes that appear drifted or loaded. New snow problems still exist and may present as a slab or loose snow avalanche on unsupported features at middle and lower elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate winds will continue to drift low-density new snow into cohesive slabs on leeward terrain around Mt Hood. In the past days, slab depths have ranged from 6 inches in more sheltered terrain to up to 2 ft in more heavily-loaded, alpine terrain. 

    You’ll typically find these wind slabs on the downwind side of ridges, below cornices, near rocks and cliffs, and on terrain rollovers exposed to the wind. Look for blowing snow and surface clues like wind etched snow, dunes, and pillowy slabs to help you identify where these slabs may lurk. Cracking or collapsing (whumphing) are signs of a sensitive slab directing you toward lower-angle slopes.

    While less likely, any triggered wind slab on N-E aspects at middle elevations could step-down into faceted snow on or below a crust 2-3 ft below the surface. Observations continue to report the January Drought Layer harboring weak, faceted snow but we have not confirmed any avalanches on this layer. Stack the odds in your favor by carefully assessing for unstable test results or hard over soft layering before committing to steeper terrain at these suspect N-E aspects at middle elevations. 

    (2/23/2024)

    Wind etched surfaces like this are clues that wind slabs may exist nearby.

    Photo: Matt Primomo

  • Loose Dry

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

    Low-density snow continues to pile up maintaining the dry loose avalanche problem on steep, middle and lower-elevation terrain. The sun may also poke out, which may increase the chance of loose snow avalanches on steep slopes in the sun. You can manage this problem by steering around steep features or using careful sluff management. 

    Additional Discussion: While the storm snow should settle out as precipitation tapers, triggering a lingering storm slab is not out of the question. Be suspicious of steep open, unsupported features below treeline. Use small test slopes to check how sensitive the storm snow is before committing to steeper features. 

    (2/8/2025) Photo: Suzanna Pratt

    An example of a loose avalanche in Mount Rainier National Park. 

Avalanche Discussion

Saturday brought 6-8 inches (.45 inches of SWE) of low-density snow to the Mt. Hood region. The Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol found sensitive storm snow during control work and reported triggering several shallow storm slabs. They also triggered a few larger D1.5- D2 wind slabs in their upper canyon terrain. Backcountry travelers on Elk Mountain and Pea Gravel Ridge also reported triggering small storm slabs and dry loose avalanches failing in steeper, more sheltered terrain. (Observation/Observation). 

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