Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong winds and continued light snowfall will maintain concern for human-triggered avalanches in wind-drifted snow. Avalanches will become thicker and more reactive as you climb up in elevation. Use visual clues to identify and avoid large wind-loaded slopes over 35 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Another 2-4in of snow over the next 24 hours will bring storm totals since 3/17 up to around 8-10in. WNW winds up to 25-35mph overnight Saturday will redistribute surface snow into fresh drifts and thicken existing slabs. The largest and most dangerous wind slabs will exist at upper elevations, particularly on easterly aspects. With plenty of recent snow available for transport and strong winds, blowing snow and wind-loading should be widespread and could even extend into open start zones below treeline. Look and feel for changes in snow surface texture and hardness as you move through terrain. Be leery of slopes below cornices, areas near rocks and cliffs, and the lee sides of gullies and ridgelines. Seek out supported terrain features and slopes sheltered from the wind to avoid the problem.  

    (3/16/2022)

    Mt Hood Meadows Patrol triggered this large avalanche (D2) with explosives in Memorial Bowl in Heather Canyon on 3/16. The avalanche broke 1-2ft deep in wind drifted snow and ran 900ft downslope. (6900ft, NE)

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

In addition to wind slabs, keep loose avalanches in mind as it warms up throughout the day, especially if the sun makes an unexpected appearance. With the incremental loading over the past several days, you may be able to trigger small avalanches on steep convex rollovers and unsupported slopes even in non-wind-loaded areas. On Friday, an NWAC Observer near Zigzag Canyon found a number of recent crusts in the upper snowpack that were well-bonded to adjacent layers. Storms in the past week added an additional 2ft to the snowpack. An atmospheric river brought snow punctuated with rain crusts from the 12-14th. Another 20 inches accumulated with cooler temperatures through the end of the week. On Wednesday, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Patrol triggered numerous large to very large wind slab avalanches on N-E slopes between 6000-7000 ft. Warm temperatures and filtered sun later in the week drove some wet loose avalanches at lower elevations.

Regions covered