Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The start of the day may not feel all that dangerous, but watch out as rain starts falling on dry snow at middle and upper elevations. Expect wet avalanches of all shapes and sizes as snow changes over to rain. This will be a great day to sit out, but if you do go, consider avoiding all avalanche terrain until this storm has run its course. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

     Precipitation will initially start as snow and become heavier and heavier as it falls, creating the perfect recipe for storm slabs. This upside-down layering may make it easy to trigger these slabs on any steep, convex rollover. In wind-loaded areas, these slabs will only be bigger and more destructive. So keep out of leeward slopes that show signs of recent drifting. Friday will be an excellent day to dial back your terrain selection and stay clear of open slopes greater than 35 degrees - especially during periods of heavy snowfall. 

    (1/19/2024)

    An example of a storm slab in the West-South zone. 

    Photo: White Pass Ski Patrol

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    As the day progresses, the precipitation will inevitably change to rain, which may reach upper elevations by the afternoon hours. Whenever rain on dry snow occurs, expect a round of natural avalanches. These wet avalanches will vary in type and size, but we're calling them wet slabs due to potential failure points like the 1/24 crust or deeper layers at upper elevations. But make no mistake; there will likely be a combination of wet loose and wet slab avalanches as rain falls on a dry snowpack. You'll probably start seeing wet loose avalanches as a precursor for bigger, more dangerous wet slabs. The travel advice is simple: avoid all areas where avalanches can start, run, or stop.

    (12/26/2022)

    Wet avalanches can be very destructive. Friday will be a good day to give large slopes a wide buffer. 

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Friday  is shaping up to be a messy day in the Mt Hood zone. While the forecast water numbers are not super impressive by atmospheric river standards, the sharp warming and rain on a dry layered snowpack will be the bigger story. In the last week, we have seen multiple very large avalanches shed off the upper mountain. We're unsure what these avalanches are failing on, but this trend may continue as rain is introduced to the snowpack for the first time. If large natural avalanches don't start shedding by the afternoon, they certainly may during the evening hours. 

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