Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

A few more inches of snow and breezy conditions will add unstable wind-loaded areas. Watch out for firm pillow-like drifts along ridges and exposed features. If you see signs of wind loading down low, these slabs will only get bigger and more dangerous as you ascend.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Several days of a near-constant trickle of snow and sustained windy weather formed a patchwork of slabs around Mt Hood. You may find older firm slabs, shallower recent drifts, and activity building pillows. While the older slabs might be harder to trigger, they will be much larger and more dangerous. 

    Blowing snow and fresh drifts will highlight new wind-loaded pockets you want to avoid. However, you’ll also need to keep an eye out for large firm smoother surfaces that indicate the presence of a harder wind slab. These will be most prevalent along ridgelines and near the base of headwalls. Give them a wide berth by seeking out lower-angled or more wind-stripped terrain.

    (2/19/2024)

    A large wind slab avalanche at Mt Hood Meadows released during mitigation work. This slide was visible from Pea Gravel Ridge. (N, 6700ft) 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    The lower elevations snowpack is wet and sloppy. While not particularly hazardous, it could produce a few rollerballs or a “push-o-lanche” on very steep slopes. If the sun comes out in the afternoon, these may be more common. 

    Be careful in steep terrain above cliffs, gullies, holes, and open creeks where one of these small wet loose slides could carry you somewhere you don’t want to go.

    (2/19/2024)

    Rollerballs occured quickly with just a few minutes of sunshine at lower elevations. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

This weather pattern continues to bring a few inches of snow and wind to Mt Hood nearly every day since last Thursday. While the 24-hour snow totals don’t look that impressive, the cumulative effect is notable. About 2ft of snow has fallen since 2/14. It’s enough to maintain dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations. Expect the hazard to rise as you head higher in the terrain. 

On Tuesday, snow showers in the morning may once again yield to sun breaks in the afternoon. It doesn’t look like these will be very big or long-lived, but we’re reaching that time of year when the sun quickly changes the snow. If the sun comes out, you may find that both the wind slabs and wet loose slides become easier to trigger. 

Periods of warmer weather and moments of sunshine caused the snow surface to change. This led to a rash of natural and human-triggered wind slab avalanches on Sunday. It also formed a variety of crusts, mainly at lower elevations and on sunny aspects.

Regions covered