Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago.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

Highlights

You can still trigger a stubborn, old, and potentially slab or a fresh, shallow drift. On lee slopes, steer around steep, poorly supported terrain features or areas with active wind loading. At lower elevations, if the snow becomes sticky, adjust your aspect before you could trigger a shallow wet avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Large slabs formed with 1-2 ft of snow and strong/extreme wind loading that ended Tuesday morning.  Although time and a lack of additional wind loading have helped reduce slab reactivity, the size keeps these slabs on our mind for lower likelyhood, higher consequence avalanche. Continue to use caution on wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees and generally avoid large avalanche paths that show obvious signs of recent wind loading.  Anywhere you encounter hollow or wind-stiffened snow, choose lower-angle terrain or windward slopes. Fresher smaller slabs may form as winds increase on Thursday. Therefore if you see, active wind loading, identify and avoid the deposition zones where they intersect steep terrain (likely in the immediate lee of ridgelines).

    An observation from Gunsight ridge on 2/15 indicates some potential for a storm slab to fail on a steep convexity below treeline.

    Example: Large explosive-triggered wind slabs in atypical alpine start zones low on the slope.

    Photo: Mt Hood Meadows Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Mt. Hood Meadows patrol reported no new avalanche activity on Wednesday. Cool temperatures and were keeping snow surfaces from melting despite light winds and strong sunshine.

About 1.5" of water/16" of snow was recorded at area weather stations through Tuesday morning along with strong to extreme westerly winds.  Mt Hood Meadows pro-patrol triggered 1-2' deep wind slab avalanches on wind-loaded slopes near and above treeline Tuesday morning during avalanche mitigation.  In more sheltered terrain, they found that small soft slabs (6-8" deep) were easy to trigger but didn't travel far. 

This new snow fell on top of the 2/13 crust. This crust should be at all elevations but may be thinner at higher elevations and shady aspects. We don't currently have concerns about the snowpack below the new snow/old snow interface. 

Regions covered