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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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The snowpack will change as you gain elevation. Lower down, veer around steep slopes if you find yourself sinking deeply into wet snow. As you get higher, start to look for signs that wind drifted snow might be unstable, such as blowing snow, uneven snow surfaces, and a change to denser-feeling snow underneath your equipment. If you see any of these and also experience shooting cracks or recent avalanches, find more sheltered terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Although Wednesday's wind forecast was a bit of a bust, slabs still formed in exposed terrain. This, along with another small input of snow and wind on Thursday, keeps wind slabs on the table. As you gain elevation and find drier snow, expect the sensitivity to increase.

    Wind slabs generally form just below ridgelines and along gully walls, often referred to as cross loading. Identify signs of wind transport, such as textured snow surfaces, cornice development, and scoured surfaces on the windward side of slopes. Recent slab avalanches, long shooting cracks from your equipment, and collapsing are all clear signs to stick to more sheltered terrain. 

    (12/18/2025)

    A small intentionally triggered wind slab from last week. Triggering small avalanches such as this one are possible tomorrow.

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    The snow on lower elevation slopes saw a bit of rain on Wednesday and might see a touch more on Thursday. Sandwiched between, the mountain won't experience a very good overnight refreeze below 5000 ft. Therefore, be on the lookout for snow that has weakened due to warming. The first signs of deterioration are roller balls, pinwheels, and big chunks of snow falling from trees. If you're getting rained on or can get mushy snow moving downhill on a small test slope, maneuver around steep slopes where a small avalanche could catch and carry you over rocks and cliffs.

    (12/13/2025)

    A small wet loose avalanche on a steep, SE aspect from ealier this month. There are ski tracks to the left of it, so its hard to say if its skier triggered or natural. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

A happy Christmas to those who celebrate! We were really hoping we'd get a big fat dump of snow as a gift, but someone must've been too naughty this year...

We didn't quite get the epic wind we were expecting Tuesday night and Wednesday, but that's not to say it wasn't windy. Mount Hood Meadows recorded gusts up to 65 mph in the early morning hours on Wednesday. With plenty of new snow lying around, it's pretty safe to assume slabs formed in lee terrain. The kicker is knowing how light and dry the new snow has been, at least up high. The drier the snow, the more easily it gets picked up by the wind. Since we don't have a lot of on the ground information at the moment to build confidence in the forecast, pay close attention to the snow moisture as you travel higher into the alpine. The snowpack that you start your day in might be significantly different than what you plan to ski or sled later on.

The snowpack has finally built up enough for ski resorts to open and backcountry travel to expand. There is still some work to do, however, so come with an early-season mindset. The chance of hitting a rock, stump, or an open creek is high in lower and middle elevation terrain and on higher elevation aspects stripped of snow. These hazards can appreciably increase the consequences of getting caught in even a small avalanche.

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