Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A fresh round of snow and wind will make it easy to trigger a wind slab avalanche where you find firmer snow at upper elevations.  Don't get caught and carried through exposed or barely buried obstacles like rocks and stumps.  High avalanche danger will likely develop Saturday night as the storm intensifies - plan to be in safe terrain well before the danger ramps up. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Avoid steep open slopes where you find firmer wind-pressed or hollow-sounding snow.  Shooting cracks out ahead of your feet are tell-tale signs to choose lower angle or more wind-sheltered terrain. 

    We do not have a mid-winter snowpack, even at higher elevations.  Before you enter avalanche terrain, weigh the consequences of getting caught in any size avalanche and raked through rough terrain like exposed rocks, trees and creeks. 

    (12/8/2023)

    Wind loaded pockets were reactive and produced small, shallow slabs on test slopes Friday. These slabs are likely larger and more destructive in alpine terrain. 

    Photo: Joseph Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Winter made a comeback (we'll see how long it lasts unfortunatlely) Thursday and Friday with over a foot of new snow.  On Friday, forecaster Joe Dellaporta found increasing avalanche hazard with elevation. Small but sensitive wind slabs were easy to trigger on lee slopes (ENE) near treeline/6500'.  Strong winds in the morning moved snow easily on the upper mountain but had subsided around mid-day. At this elevation, 30-35cm (12-14") of storm snow was well bonded to the underlying crust and refreezing lower snowpack. Travel was challenging at all lower elevations and wind-stripped terrain due to low and variable snow cover.

A significant multi-day storm cycle ended on 12/6, dumping an amazing 10-12" of precipitation on the mountain.  Unfortunately, most of this precipitation fell as rain outside the upper reaches of the mountain and knocked down the early season snowpack.   

Regions covered