Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Monday will be a notch warmer, setting the stage for wet avalanches on steep slopes that receive sun. Move to colder and more firm slopes once you notice signs of warming, like rollerballs, rime/ice shedding, or if you're sinking past your ankles in wet, sloppy snow. Be on the lookout for unstable pockets of wind-drifted snow at upper elevations above 7000 ft. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Sun and rising temperatures will keep the threat of wet avalanches in the forecast. You can anticipate this problem by considering your aspect vs. timing of when you might be on any given slope. Look for signs of instability, like small rollers falling out of trees or small fan shaped slides. Feel for moistening snow surfaces on slopes in the sun. You can use test slopes to check and see how any given area might react. These slides should remain small, but may be able to entrain more than you'd think, especially in larger terrain features. 

    (2/10/2024)

    An example of rollerballs and small wet avalanches. 

    Photo: Brad C

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Despite the sharp warm-up, you should still have dry snow problems in mind at upper elevations above 7000 ft. Strong east winds on Sunday may have built a new generation of shallow wind slabs across wind exposed features. East winds often load unusual aspects, like west-facing slopes or cross-load terrain features. Do your own localized assessments and carefully evaluate terrain features that encourage drifting, such as the downwind side of ridges & canyons, moraines, and cross-loaded depressions. Pull back from wind-loaded slopes if you notice shooting cracks or stiff, hollow-sounding snow under your feet or skis. 

    Large cornices exist across many ridges and canyons around Mt Hood. They often fail much farther back than expected. During these warm sunny periods, they can become weaker and easier to trigger. Give these some space, especially with the warming trend

     

    (3/31/2024)

    A wide slab avalanche that broke in wind-loaded terrain on the Reid Glacier in the last 1-2 days. 

    W aspect, 8800 ft

    Photo: Evan Stone

Avalanche Discussion

Preliminary Report: NWAC is saddened to report an avalanche fatality as a result of a cornice fall on Mount St. Helens. On Friday, March 29, 2024, a snowboarder summited the peak. While standing near the top, he triggered a cornice and fell into the crater triggering a large slab avalanche on the slope below. NWAC is working with Skamania Co Sheriff’s office and SAR to compile a report. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community 

Discussion:

Monday will be warmer than previous days. By the afternoon, look for freezing levels to climb to over 11,000 ft. As the day progresses, you'll likely start seeing wet snow forming at higher elevations.

Over the weekend, observers generally reported wet snow and a few small wet loose avalanches below 7000 ft. Once above this, backcountry travelers reported dry, wind-affected surfaces. One observer on Sunday, traveling on the Reid Glacier reported a natural widely propagating avalanche on a west aspect at 8800 ft. This avalanche was likely 1-2 days old. They also reported extreme east winds that moved significant amounts of snow at upper elevations. 

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

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