Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong winds will easily move new snow and form fresh wind slabs on steep lee slopes at upper elevations Tuesday.  Sunbreaks and daytime warming may increase the likelihood of small wet loose avalanches in very steep terrain at lower elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Westerly winds and snow showers will ramp up Tuesday night and into Wednesday, easily forming new wind slabs on lee slopes.  This is a case where the higher you travel you're likely to find deeper slabs.  Avoid large open slopes at upper elevations capable of producing large avalanches. 

    Cracking in the new snow, blowing snow, sharp cornices, and wind-sculpted features are red flags that you should avoid nearby steep wind-loaded slopes. Blowing snow will reduce visibility at times, so make sure you know safe travel routes above treeline.   

    A middle elevations, the winds will certainly be strong enough to blow snow around but wind slabs will likely be shallower and may be less reactive.  If you find avalanche conditions are spicier than anticipated, pull back to lower angle and sheltered terrain. 

    You can use small test slopes like this to help you gauge the sensitivity of wind-drifted snow. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

  • Loose Wet

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

    It's spring-time so even on a cool, windy, showery day we can't ignore the potential effects of daytime warming and occasional sunbreaks in-between showers.  Conditions can change rapidly in the spring; slopes that were cold and stable in the morning, may be wet and heavy in the afternoon.  Natural wet loose avalanches may occur on steep slopes below rocky terrain during sunbreaks. 

    If you see signs of pinwheels, rollerballs or natural wet loose avalanches, avoid very steep terrain features and retreat to cooler slopes and simpler terrain.  Most avalanches will be small, but you don't want to get flushed into a creek hole or through rocks or dense trees. 

    On parts of the mountain that have received more snow over the last 2 days,  wet loose avalanches may surprise you by packing more of a punch as they entrain more recent snow. 

    (2/19/2024)

    Even on cool days with more clouds than sun, rollerballs can occur quickly with just a few minutes of sunshine at lower elevations and warming temperatures.

    There are indicators that conditions are becoming less stable on similar slopes.   

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Backcountry travelers found 2-6 inches of dense snow from the last 48 hrs (higher amounts on the south and west sides of the mountain) with a supportable crust underneath at mid and upper elevations Monday.  On Sunday, an NWAC forecaster on Peagravel Ridge reported small wet loose avalanches as sun-exposed slopes warmed.

Above 7000ft, the new and recent snow is building over a firm and slick crust.  This may make for an excellent bed surface for avalanches to run on as we enter a mid-week storm cycle.  Below the near surface crust at mid-elevations, you may still find wet grains slowly refreezing in the upper snowpack following last week's extended warmth. 

While the new snow will help improve travel, snow surfaces at lower elevations, forested terrain and steep south and west aspects are in rough shape following the warm-up.  Even with a few inches of new snow, be aware of late-season travel challenges and hazards.

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