Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Cooling temperatures should help limit wet snow avalanche concerns. However, as new snow starts accumulating consider shifting your focus to newly forming wind slabs along ridgeline and leeward slopes. Icy surfaces could easily make a small avalanche or slip into a longer, sliding fall in steep terrain. So, come prepared with an ice axe, crampons, and the ability to arrest a fall if you venture into more exposed terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    S/SW winds will stay strong as new snow begins to accumulate, which will create a fresh batch of shallow wind slabs across exposed, middle and upper elevation terrain. While these slabs should stay small, they may trigger easily in spots where they form over a slick crust. And, a small avalanche on the widespread firm crust folks have been observing above 7000 ft, could easily result in a long, sliding fall scenario. 

    Pay attention to blowing snow and textured, ripples surfaces as clues of recent loading. You’ll typically find these slabs for these slabs on the leeside of ridges & canyons, below cornices, or on the beak-over of steep alpine slopes. You can use small test slopes or hand pits to gauge how reactive these slabs are. Cracks shooting out from under your feet or skis are obvious signs that you may have found an unstable wind slab. 

    (12/13/2024)

    Is it windy? Don't overlook the obvious. Blowing snow should mean wind slabs until proven otherwise. 

    Photo: ONP Rangers

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    While freezing levels are forecast to drop on Saturday, they won’t drop fast enough to make wet loose avalanches unlikely. You’ll still likely encounter wet, sloppy snow below 6000 ft, especially during the first half of the day. Move to firmer slopes if you notice rollerballs shedding or if you’re sinking past your boot top in wet, sloppy snow. 

    (3/24/2022)

    Take a moment to step off your mode of travel to see how deeply you are plunging into the snow. If you are sinking in past your ankle, start to think about wet avalanches. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

The Mt.Hood zone will finally see a gradual cooling trend after 4 mild days since the rain event. Saturday should start warm, but temperatures are forecast to drop as precipitation chances increase. Forecast models suggest most precipitation should fall as snow above 4500 ft. While the new snow accumulations are welcome, it will take over a few inches to cover up our rough surfaces.

The 12/17 rain event brought nearly 2 inches of rain to upper mountain elevations. This led to a widespread natural avalanche cycle with numerous D2 to D3-sized avalanches in the canyons around Mt. Hood. This rain event was also responsible for creating rain runnels along many mid and lower-elevation slopes and a slick, widespread rain crust in upper mountain terrain.

If you get out, we could use the observation. Submit an observation here. 

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