Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Wind slabs exist at all elevations within hollow-feeling drifts peppering atypical westerly aspects. Use visual clues to identify and steer around steep or unsupported slopes. As temperatures warm, identify slopes 35 degrees and steeper that may destabilize with direct sunshine and move to shaded aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    NE winds loaded atypical aspects on Mt Hood since the last storm brought over 2 ft of low-density snow. Firm, dense slabs have created a spooky feel. A natural 1-2 ft wind slab appears to have released post-storm at 5000 ft on an extreme NE aspect. This serves as a reminder that slabs remain reactive at all elevations. Near and above treeline, slabs could be large, consequential on lee (generally westward) aspects. Slab reactivity should gradually decrease due to moderating temperatures, but increasing WSW winds may drift fresh shallow slabs onto more typical aspects by the afternoon. Whether you're dealing with larger slabs on atypical aspects, small slabs in exposed below treeline terrain, or shallow fresher slabs, identify and navigate around wind loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Cracking snow surfaces, textured snow, or slopes that suddenly became well filled in recent days are all orange flags that should steer you away from the problem areas. 

    (2/23/2023)

    Widespread cracking snow surfaces on W aspects near ridgeline (Tom, Dick, and Harry).

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

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

    Saturday will be the first above-freezing day (at lower elevations) since the cold snap and most aspects maintain cold, dry snow without a surface crust. Strong sunshine and light winds in the morning should warm steep aspects facing the direct sunshine where density snow may destabilize and fail as a fan-shaped point release. These could be wet or dry. In either case, rollerballs and snow shedding off rocks or trees should remind you to seek shaded terrain before small natural or human-triggered avalanches become concerning. Even a small avalanche may be consequential where it can push you into a depression in the terrain or over a cliff.

    Example: Rollerballs such as these will be the precursor to small loose wet slides.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

 

E and NE winds redistributed storm snow significantly on Thursday and Thursday night, but some transport lingered into Friday. Even below treeline, the location of the natural wind slab avalanche on Bluegrass Ridge (see photo gallery) was actively wind-loading on Friday. Mt Hood overproduced and picked up over 26-30 inches or more of low-density snow (6% density) at the Meadows plot Monday night through Thursday. The storm snow is well bonded to the 1-2 cm thick 2/20 crust (which may become a new/old snow interface at higher elevations). There are multiple interfaces within the top meter of a typical snow profile such as you might find here, but we're primarily focused on avalanche activity above the 2/20 crust. If you are traveling in an area where the 2/20 interface is thin or disappears, you may want to investigate the snowpack further. Observers on Thursday reported increasing wind transport and sensitive slabs in the lee of ridgelines around Tom, Dick, and Harry. Widespread wind-affected snow was also present at Timberline Resort. Mt. Hood Meadows triggered a handful of 8-24" storm slabs on Thursday and more 2-6" soft slabs on Friday. Dry loose avalanches were losing their zeal by Friday due to snowpack consolidation and by Saturday you might find a crust on very steep S aspects.

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

 

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