Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow, strong winds, and some chances of sun later in the day will make for dynamic avalanche conditions on Tuesday. Overlapping avalanche problems are good enough reasons to simplify your terrain selection, especially as you gain elevation into wind-affected terrain. The snow is deep, so keep your partners in close sight and give treewells and creeks a wider buffer than normal. 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    There’s a decent chance of decreasing clouds and increasing sun during the afternoon hours. In this case, it won’t take much time for the new snow to react on solar aspects. Pay attention to your aspect, timing, and the snow surfaces around you. Consider moving to a shader aspect once you notice rollerballs shedding or sticky, gloppy surfaces under your feet or machine. With the amount of dry snow we have received in the past days, these wet loose could start growing large in bigger terrain like Gnarl ridge or the White River. 

    (3/21/2021)

    Wet loose avalanches often initiate where snow sheds off rocks and trees onto the slope below. Note that there are both small rollerballs and wet loose avalanches in this image. 

    Photo: Zack McGill - Cascade Mtn Ascents

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Once all said and done, Mt Hood may receive up to another foot (or more) on Monday night into Tuesday morning. If precipitation materializes, this could make for a round of sensitive storm and wind slabs across the terrain.  As usual, expect slabs to be bigger and more consequential in wind-loaded terrain.  These slabs will likely be most sensitive and primed for triggering during morning hours.

    The strategy is simple on storm days, approach any steep, open slope greater than 35 degrees with some suspicion, especially if you notice wind drifts and blowing snow. You can hunt down instability by using test slopes, hand shears, and other simple tests. Whumphing or shooting cracks are signs you could trigger an avalanche if you head into steeper terrain. If slopes are actively loading up, just consider steering around similar, steep wind-loaded features.  When in doubt just stick to simpler, sheltered, lower-angle terrain.

    (12/26/2024)

    You may find slabs like this in wind drifted areas or in open, steep terrain. 

    Photo: Crystal Mountain Pro Patrol

Avalanche Discussion

Mt Hood is just not catching a break with this pattern! Monday night into Tuesday should bring up another inch of precipitation and another round of strong winds. As Tuesday progresses, there are increasing chances of clearing, so be on the lookout for a round of wet snow instabilities during sunny periods. During patterns like this, you’ll likely encounter the most sensitive storm and wind slabs during the early morning, but those instabilities may quickly be replaced with wet snow concerns on solars if the sun makes an appearance. So approach Tuesday with some caution and flexibility. 

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