Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You may need to navigate around a fresh batch of shallow wind slabs on Tuesday.  Light snow and moderate west winds will combine to create shallow wind drifted slabs on the lee sides of ridges, below cornices, and peppered in the alpine.  Identify these wind loaded slopes and avoid them if you observe signs of instability.  

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

     Light new snowfall and moderate southwest winds will combine to create a fresh batch of shallow wind slabs at mid and upper elevations.  You will find these shallow slabs of wind drifted snow in specific areas such as on easterly aspects, under cornices, and peppered through the alpine.  In some areas specifically near treeline these slabs may bond poorly to the old snow surface, since surface hoar and near-surface facets have been observed at these elevations in the past days.  If you plan on traveling in potentially wind loaded aspects, be sure to evaluate how the new snow and slabs are bonding to the old snow surface.  Use small test slopes or hand pits as tools to gauge how sensitive the new snow is. 

    The older and larger wind slabs that formed on the 30th are stubborn and likely trending towards unreactive by now. The last known avalanche that released in this wind drifted snow occurred on New Year's Day when the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol triggered isolated slabs with explosives. These older and larger slabs may be challenging to identify once they have a new light coating of snow, but I would still consider these in your trip planning if you plan on traveling into the alpine. 

    Steer around steep wind loaded slopes if you observe fresh slabs of snow cracking easily or notice recent avalanche activity. 

    (12/3/2022)

    If you start seeing signs such as cracking and little wind drifted slabs sliding out - shift to a more conservative plan and steer around wind loaded slopes. 

    Photo: Josh Hirshberg

Avalanche Discussion

This weather is not that fascinating.  If you want more snow, go to California.   Anyways… Tuesday should bring light snow accumulations and moderate winds to the Mt Hood zone.  Going into this small system, many observations across the zone pointed at variable surfaces.  On steep southerly aspects, you will find a sun crust that formed after the last two days of sunshine.  At mid elevations you may find 3-4 inches of faceting snow  (near-surface facets & surface hoar) on top of a rain crust that formed on 12/30.  At upper elevations many folks have been greeted with a mixed bag of surfaces from firm wind drifted snow, soft sastrugi, sheltered cold snow,  and icy wind stripped surfaces.  Whatever falls on Tuesday will lightly cover up these surfaces.  I would suspect in many areas this may just be just dust on crust, but be heads up if you start observing slab-like snow at upper elevations.  

 

If you get out into the backcountry, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation. 

Regions covered