Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Significant rainfall and warm temperatures will combine to create dangerous wet snow avalanche conditions.  You should consider any steep slope as being suspect.  Steer around steep slopes and avoid traveling in the run-out of avalanche paths. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Monday will be the 4th day of above-freezing temperatures and significant rain accumulation (up to 1.5 in of water).  This combination will continue to weaken our snowpack across the Mt. Hood zone and create a wet slab hazard.  Prior to this rain, known weak layers such as buried surface hoar existed- specifically at lower elevations below treeline.  These could be layers that avalanches fail on, if they have not already.  Our upper elevation starting zones will continue to get soaked with over an inch of water, which could produce very large avalanches that are capable of running into lower elevation canyons.  These wet avalanches are incredibly hard to forecast for and manage, so just avoid all areas where avalanches can start, run, or stop.  

    You should also watch out for other wet avalanche problem types, such as wet loose avalanches in steep terrain.  These slides are often less destructive, but can still create trouble in the wrong terrain.  

     

    As water continues to percolate deeper into our snowpack,  very large avalanches could release off the upper mountain and run far into lower elevation drainages. 

    Photo: Peter Moore

Avalanche Discussion

The Mt. Hood Meadows Pro Patrol reported less-than-ideal conditions on Christmas Day.  They observed widespread runnels and reported small wet loose avalanches on steep slopes below treeline. 

If you thought Sunday was gross, then well, Monday morning might even be worse.  Weather forecasts are pointing at another stormy, wet, and warm day out there.  Winds will also become quite strong and gusty during the early hours of the day as the front pushes through. These winds should taper during the afternoon hours.  With that, expect another day of challenging travel conditions.  Going forward, the forecast looks more promising with dropping snow levels and continued moisture, so do those snow dances!

Observations have been limited since the rain event started (I dont blame you), so if you get out, let us know what you see by submitting an observation!

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