Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Despite the dry and sunny weather, it remains possible for you to trigger a large avalanche in wind-drifted snow on Friday.  Identify areas that appear wind-textured or pillow-like, particularly on steep, convex slopes at mid and upper elevations.  Navigate around these areas if you notice signs of unstable snow, like shooting cracks. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Dry weather and very low wind speeds will help wind slabs gain strength and become more stubborn for a human to trigger on Friday.  That being said,  these slabs won’t be impossible to trigger. They could certainly still surprise you, especially if they break on the slick MLK rain crust.  You may encounter more sensitive slabs above treeline on more shaded aspects, especially if these spots have seen fresh loading.

    Look for these slabs below ridgelines, on steep canyon walls, below cornices, and peppered through the alpine. Pay attention to how deep and how dense the snow is as you travel.  If the snow depth and stiffness increase, you are likely traveling on a wind slab.  Shooting cracks from your skis or sled are indicators of an unstable slab.  These are clear red flags telling you to avoid steep wind-drifted slopes. 

    (12/3/2022)

    Shooting cracks like this are in-your-face indicators pointing at unstable snow. Move to lower angled and more sheltered slopes  if you see signs like this.  

    Photo: Dallas Glass

  • Loose Wet

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

    The sun will come out and the temperatures will climb near the freezing-mark at many lower and mid-elevations.  This combination will create moist surfaces on sunny slopes and increase the likelihood of wet loose avalanches. You will most likely find these moist snow surfaces on south-facing aspects ( SW-S-SE).  Start thinking about moving off steep south facing slopes when you start seeing rollerballs or pinwheels initiating.  These are  often indicators telling you the snow surface is becoming wet and weak. 

    It won't be impossible for you to find other forms of loose snow avalanches, such as dry loose on steep, shaded aspects in the alpine.  So keep this as a consideration if your travels take you on a more steep, northerly slopes. 

    Once the sun hits the dry snow, you may start observing small wet loose slides like this. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Unfortunately, the recent storm underproduced and left us with about 3 inches of new snow (<.25 swe).  It wasn’t what we were all hopeful for, however we’ll take it.  

On Thursday, the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol triggered small, isolated wind slabs that broke 4-8 inches deep that ran on the MLK rain crust.  Other observers in the Newton/Clark Canyon area have already spotted our next crop of surface hoar that developed on the clear evening of 1/18.  

Friday will provide a beautiful day to be out and about in the mountains. Just remember subtle changes in wind, temperature, and sun can have a large impact on how the day plays out. These variables affect slab reactivity (how easy to trigger), distribution (everywhere or just in a few places), and size. Ease into larger terrain and be prepared to make and act on your own observations, especially at the highest elevations on Hood where observations have been sparse.

Regions covered