Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Until we see cooler temperatures, wet loose avalanches should be your number one concern.  Avoid very steep slopes where you find wet surface snow and can trigger a large wet loose avalanche.  Give recently formed cornices extra space when traveling along ridgelines. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    With another mild night leading into a warm day with sunshine, you still need to think about wet snow avalanches.  You're unlikely to see natural wet loose avalanches several days into a warm-up, but you may trigger a wet loose avalanche on very steep sunny slopes.  As the above treeline winds increase during the day, the greatest risk will move down the mountain into mid and lower elevations.  Wet loose avalanches may become large and powerful where they run far and entrain wet snow.  

    Pay attention to pinwheels, rollerballs, and wet or sticky snow 6" deep such as those observed here.  If you encounter these conditions, seek shadier slopes or move to lower angle terrain.  Don't let a wet snow avalanche catch you off guard above terrain traps like cliffs bands and creek beds.   

    Cornices may be weak and ready to fail after several days of warm temperatures. Avoid going underneath them and give them a wide buffer along ridgelines.  A large cornice failure could wake up deeper instabilities on the slope below. 

    Ex: A small wet loose avalanche triggered by a skier on a steep south slope midday. Note the slightly lower angle terrain to the left that did not slide.

Avalanche Discussion

Several natural and human-triggered avalanches and a large explosive-triggered avalanche occurred on Monday.   Some avalanches have released several feet down to a freezing rain crust that formed Monday 2/22 below 7000'.  Moving forward, it's unlikely you'll trigger a wind slab avalanche in older wind-affected snow.  

Mt. Hood pivoted rapidly away from a cold, stormy pattern and into spring-like weather this week. Daytime freezing levels exceeded 7000 ft Sunday through Wednesday. Public observations noted significant rollerball activity beginning on Sunday and wet loose avalanches.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continue to follow the latest guidance from local, state, and federal health officials. Avoid unnecessary risks that could impact first responders and stress medical resources.  Wear a mask when appropriate, practice social distancing, and consider recreating closer to home.

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