Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Look for more dangerous avalanche conditions as you climb above 6500 ft, especially on leeward slopes that held continuous snow surfaces before the storm. Very strong winds may build slabs in a variety of terrain features, while they may scour some slopes to ice. Be ready for variable, stormy travel and steer around slopes that appear freshly wind-loaded. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Very strong westerly wind speeds will drift new snow accumulations into slabs in exposed terrain above 6000 ft. Due to high wind speeds, these slabs may be scattered throughout the terrain. You’ll want to use visual cues such as blowing snow, cornice formation, and textured surfaces to identify where the wind has created unstable slabs. These could be easy to trigger, especially in areas where they form over an icy bed surface. You can use small, inconsequential test slopes to help you assess the sensitivity of these newly formed pockets. I expect these slabs to be small and isolated below 7000 ft, but potentially thicker and more widespread as you climb into the upper elevations. 

    It should feel stormy with high winds and blowing snow, so avoid steep features that are activly loading up and appear textured and pillow-like. Shooting cracks are clear indicators that you have found an unstable slab. 

    (2/1/2025)

    Blowing snow, fresh drifts, sharp cornices, and rime all point towards wind loading along this ridgeline. 

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Winter-like weather is slowly trying to make a comeback around Mt. Hood. Tuesday night into Wednesday will bring heavy precipitation and a sharp cool down. Unfortunately, the heaviest precipitation will fall before snow lines drop, but we can expect roughly 25% of the precipitation amounts to fall as snow through this forecast period. The avalanche danger will rest on the shoulders of the precipitation forecast, so expect less dangerous conditions at upper elevations if we only pick up modest accumulations. 

This period will be marked by a slow rise in avalanche danger, especially at middle and lower elevations where new snow will fall on bare ground. Expect a more significant rise in danger as you crest above 6500 ft, especially on wind-drifted slopes that held continuous snow surfaces previously.  At these upper elevations, new snow will fall on a variety of crusts or moist snow surfaces. High winds will productively drift new snow and scour windward features, so be ready for variable travel. Continue to be vigilant of icy surfaces and weigh the consequences of a fall in exposed terrain. It may be worth packing the ski/boot crampons and a self-arrest tool for one more day if you travel in alpine terrain.

With the warm start to the 25-26 winter season, we have less snowpack information than usual to start daily forecast operations. For zones and elevation bands with less snow than needed for avalanche hazard, we will issue a forecast with No Rating. Anticipated avalanche and weather conditions will still be updated daily. NWAC will issue an avalanche danger rating for a zone when enough snow to produce avalanches has accumulated at middle and upper elevations.

We could use the observations as snow begins to pile up. Let us know what you see by submitting an observation here.

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