Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

You can trigger an avalanche in pockets of wind-blown snow at mid and upper elevations on Monday. Look for these slabs on leeward slopes, under cornices, and scattered in the alpine. Use visual clues such as blowing snow or wind textured surfaces to help you identify slopes of concern.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    If you trigger an avalanche on Monday, it will likely be in a wind loaded pocket of snow. Recent observations from ski patrol mitigation work and observers have found these slabs breaking on the shallow side (6-12 inches deep) in heavily wind loaded areas near and above treeline. You’ll find these slabs on the leeward side of ridges, under cornices, near the top of gullies/couloirs, and cross-loading alpine terrain. The only difference on Monday will be a couple inches of new snow which may challenge your ability to locate these slopes of concern. 

    So as you travel use visual clues such as blowing snow, recent cornice growth, ripples, or rounded pillows at the snow surface to help you identify where the wind has been at work. If you see shooting cracks or hear snow that sounds hollow like a drum, take a step back and avoid steep wind drifted slopes. 

    (3/4/2023)

    Use visual clues such as fresh cornices to help you identify wind loaded slopes. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche Accident in Central Oregon: On Thursday, March 2, an avalanche fatality occurred on Black Crater peak.  Central Oregon Avalanche Center will be conducting the accident investigation.  

On Sunday, the Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol reported triggering small avalanches with explosives that broke  6-12 inches deep in some of their alpine terrain. On Saturday, I traveled in the Bluegrass Ridge area and found shallow, reactive pockets of wind-drifted snow near ridgetop and no signs of buried surface hoar from last week. You can read my full observation here.

 It seems like the surface hoar that formed last week was likely destroyed by strong winds at the onset of the weather change on Thursday. However, it's hard to say if the winds destroyed this layer in all areas. So It wouldn’t be a bad idea to dig down and confirm its absence before riding steeper, open slopes below and near treeline. 

The light, steady trickle continues Sunday evening and into Monday. We may pick up a few more inches of new snow (1-3 inches) on fairly light SW winds. Skies should stay on the cloudier side, however it may be possible for you to see some filtering sunshine. Clouds and cool temperatures should generally limit any wet loose activity, but if the sun does make an appearance you may notice some moist snow forming on solar slopes. If this does occur, keep an eye out for rollerballs or pinwheels as these are precursors of wet loose avalanches.

Mt Hood has picked up over 40 inches of new snow this past week. Storm snow is actively settling, but it's still quite deep out there. Continue to give tree wells a healthy buffer and keep your partners in close sight.

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