Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

This is not your typical spring weekend on Mt Hood. The first real warm-up of the season will create dangerous avalanche conditions through the weekend. Avoid steep slopes if you notice wet, sloppy snow, and don't linger under large slopes, especially during the heat of the day. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Wet avalanches of all types will be possible as warming continues and meltwater moves through the snowpack. The most common type of wet avalanche you'll likely encounter will be wet loose avalanches. These wet loose sluffs could grow large in less wind-affected areas that hold soft snow. Wet loose slides could be a trigger to larger wet slab avalanches. These are typically harder to predict but worth considering on any slope that starts feeling sloppy. Heat and sunshine could cause cornices to fall, which can trigger avalanches. Give these overhanging chunks of snow some space.

    Time your travel so you're off and out of the way of any larger slopes once the sun starts cooking surfaces. Avoid avalanche terrain where you're sinking into wet snow above your ankles. 

    (12/17/2023)

    An example of a wet slab. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Observers reported natural avalanches in the Old Chute on the upper mountain on both the 17th and 16th, including one that caught and carried a person. On the 16th, an NWAC observer found wet snow below 7,500ft that became unsupportive at low elevations. 

If you're traveling in avalanche terrain today, have a safe "escape plan" in case you need to pull the plug on your initial plan. The mountains are in the middle of an unpredictable spring transition, and there will be plenty of time to ride or ski fun lines once the snowpack is freezing solidly at night. 

The Cascades are in a stretch of very warm, sunny weather. This is the first big, spring warm-up, with high temperatures in the 50's and freezing levels over 10,000'. Very warm conditions through the weekend could produce significant slab and loose snow avalanches. 

As with any warming event, there is a high level of uncertainty as to where, when, or even if this scale of avalanche activity will occur. On the other hand, big natural avalanches aren't really the kinds of things that should be taken lightly. When planning for the weekend, consider that this is one of the times when an 'improbable' avalanche might actually occur.

If you head out, let us know what you find by submitting a public observation here! 

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