Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

It remains possible for you to trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted snow at mid and upper elevations. Look for wind textured surfaces, pillow-like slabs, or blowing snow to help you identify slopes of concern.  Pump the brakes and give steep wind drifted slopes some space if you notice shooting cracks or hear snow that sounds hollow like a drum. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    It's pretty straightforward right now ,if you trigger an avalanche it will likely be in a pocket of wind drifted snow in more exposed areas. The only difference on Tuesday will be a change in wind direction. Southwest winds will turn more easterly. So, keep an eye out for shallow slabs to be forming on atypical aspects (west aspects) and cross-loading terrain features. 

     As you travel, you may find different flavors of this problem.  Near treeline, the slabs will likely be more shallow and soft. However, as you climb higher into the alpine, you may come across harder and deeper wind slabs (1-2 ft deep) that could break in surprising ways if triggered.  These hard slabs will often break above you and could be consequential if triggered. I generally like to give these things a wide buffer. 

    Fortunately, this is an easy avalanche problem to navigate around. Just keep to more sheltered terrain and avoid traveling on slopes that appear wind loaded and textured. Use visual clues such as blowing snow, fresh cornices, and dunes at the snow surface to help you identify slopes of concern. Avoid steep wind drifted start zones if you notice signs of unstable snow such as shooting cracks or notice hard over soft layering. 

    (3/6/2023)

    A shooting crack in a wind loaded pocket at treeline on Monday.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The Mt Hood backcountry community is stoked right now. Riding conditions are great, new snow continues to trickle in, and we generally have a strong upper snowpack structure above the stout 2/21 freezing rain crust. Observers continue to report wind slabs lurking on all the usual leeward aspects and the Meadows Pro Patrol triggered wind slabs that broke 6-12 inches deep in some of their alpine terrain on Sunday. 

Today,  I traveled into the Pea Gravel Ridge area in search of wind slabs and to look for possible buried surface hoar from last week at the 3/2 interface (now about 1’ below the snow surface). I was successful at finding shallow wind slabs breaking on test slopes and even came across a sensitive hard slab that produced a notable shooting crack at treeline ( SE aspect,  6000 ft).  I was unsuccessful at finding buried surface hoar. The upper snowpack is looking strong with approximately 30-35 inches of settled snow ( from the past week!) sitting on the stout 2/21 freezing rain crust. 

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.  

 

 

 

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