Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Sunshine and warm temperatures will cause additional wet avalanches Saturday, especially in the afternoon. Cornice formations are large and overbuilt and could fall during the heat of the day. As the snowpack transitions with the ongoing spring thaw, time your day early and steer away from steep slopes where you find wet and slushy snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    A cool night should allow the snowpack to freeze and gain strength. You can expect variable snow surfaces and melt-freeze crusts in the morning. With strong sunshine and high temperatures in the 40s, snow surfaces will quickly thaw and become wet on all aspects by mid-day. Loose wet activity has been ongoing since Thursday, with widespread rollerballs and small avalanches on most sun-exposed slopes at lower elevations. A wet loose sluff in motion even triggered a slab avalanche on the SW aspect of Gnarl Ridge Friday (photo below). These active conditions look to continue through the weekend, and there is some uncertainty as to how the snowpack will respond. If you see wet slides gouging into old snow layers or widespread activity above treeline, call it a day and head home early. In addition to wet avalanches, expect snow to simply fall down and shed off trees, rocks, and cliffs. When you encounter wet, punchy snow, choose lower angle terrain or move to shady slopes to reduce your risk. 

    (4/22/2022)

    A natural loose wet avalanche (D1.5) in Gods Wall that ran 4/21 (NE, 5000ft)

    Photo: MHM Patrol

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Storms throughout the past week left thick slabs of wind drifted snow on lee slopes. Many avalanches were reported on north and east aspects at upper elevations Wednesday and Thursday, but slab activity tapered off Friday. These avalanches are becoming harder to trigger, but could still be possible in unsupported terrain, below ridges, and in areas below cliffs. Maybe even more concerning are the heavy and precarious cornices formations along most ridgelines. Cornices right now may be larger and more overhung than we have seen all winter. Give these features a wide berth from above and below. If they fall they could act as huge triggers on slopes below and pull out slabs several feet thick. Use visual clues to identify and avoid large wind-loaded slopes over 35 degrees at upper elevations. 

    (4/21/2022)

    Skier triggered cornice fall which could easily trigger a wind slab on the slope below.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

After weeks of wintery weather and 135in of snow so far this April, spring has finally returned. The mountains are seeing higher temperatures and more sunshine each day, and the snowpack is going through a significant transition. There are a host of avalanche problems on Mt Hood right now, so pay attention to changing conditions throughout the day and default to simple terrain when things start to heat up.

Observers Friday reported small loose wet avalanches and rollerballs on all aspects, along with fresh cornice fall. Surfaces were variable with aspect and elevation with breakable and supportable crusts, soggy mashed-potato snow, and some dry wind affected snow up high. On Thursday, NWAC staff traveled up Pea Gravel Ridge adjacent to Mt. Hood Meadows. Reactive cornices were observed along with fresh natural and human-triggered size 1.5 wind slabs, and even some slab formation below treeline. Warm temperatures and sunshine started a rollerball cycle by early afternoon. Check out the full observation here.

Regions covered