Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You're most likely to trigger a small loose avalanche on steep slopes receiving direct sunshine near treeline. If you encounter rollerballs or more than 6" of slushy snow sitting atop a firm crust, move to a cooler, shaded aspect. Above NWAC forecast terrain on the upper mountain, dry snow has drifted to form large slabs you can still trigger.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Sunday will be unseasonably warm with full sunshine. Cold snow lingers on northerly slopes. Elsewhwere, you'll find crusty surfaces to start the day. Any slope receiving sunshine will soften and become slushy and temperatures may be warm enough to start rollerball activity on more shaded aspects. You can trigger a small avalanche on a steep slope or one might initiate off melting rocks.  More soft snow may exist near treeline than either above or below treeline, so this is the most likely band to find wet loose activity. If you see active avalanches, rollerball activity, or more than 6" of snow atop the 01/30 crust, seek cooler shaded aspects or lower angle slopes. 

    (2/5/2022)

    Rollerballs on steep slopes receiving direct sunshine are a precursor to wet loose avalanches.

    Photo: Andrew Kiefer

Avalanche Discussion

No slab avalanches have been reported since Wednesday.  Conditions above treeline remained a mix of scoured icy surfaces and chalky wind-pressed snow.  About a foot of snow accumulated above the late January crust earlier this week and winds formed dense wind slabs on higher lee slopes up to 2' thick.  An observer reported that winds continued to drift that snow above NWAC forecast terrain near crater rock at the top of the White River headwall on Saturday. Slabs were generally 1 ft deep and well-bonded to the 01/30 crust near the Hogsback, with cracking exhibited on N aspects.

Snowfall since 01/30 has improved conditions in many areas since last week. However, a rain crust may be exposed in some of the terrain up to 7000 ft with widespread rime present above 8500 ft.  Icy conditions led to numerous falls and multiple rescues on the upper mountain over the past week, and several snowmobilers lost control on the slick surfaces at Skyline and Frog Lake SnoParks with accidents and severe injuries reported. Keep your guard up - snow surfaces are variable out there and can change rapidly with aspect and elevation.  

Near and below treeline, snow surfaces receiving sunshine softened on Saturday and riders found good corn with the right timing before 6-8" of snow turned slushy on some aspects in the afternoon. With warmer temperatures forecast for Sunday, expect to harvest corn early and move to cooler, shaded aspects as the day progresses. 

Keep the threat of rockfall on your radar as the snow melts out in some areas.

Regions covered