Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Slowly cooling temperatures won't change the saturated state of the upper snowpack with another poor overnight refreeze. Expect very small wet avalanches in steep terrain. Weakened cornices may fail without warning and snow or ice on rocks and cliffs may continue to shed, so give them space on the slopes below.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1

    Although the temperatures are cooling and wet snow may fall above treeline, the snow remains saturated at all elevations. Multiple melt-freeze cycles have helped reduce the potential for consequential avalanches. Therefore, you can still trigger avalanches that don't entrain significantly and remain very small. Keep in mind your exposure as you move into extreme terrain features or cross above terrain traps where these very small avalanches pose greater risk. 

    Cornice failures and snow shedding off rocks and cliffs over the week both serve as a good reminder that sustained warm temperatures continue to create mountain hazards. Consider what might be able to fall down as you cross under terrain with these hazards.

    Example: Loose wet avalanche in saturated surface snow.

    Photo: Dallas Glass

Avalanche Discussion

Above-freezing temperatures for most of the last week have created a saturated and summer-like upper snowpack. It's been over a week since the last significant snowfall. Larger avalanche activity from earlier in the week tapered off and MHM Patrol reported some very small (inconsequential) avalanches over the last several days. 

Early in the week, natural avalanches were observed up to D2 including cornice-fall triggered wind slabs and wet loose avalanches on easterly aspects in White River Canyon between 5800-7400ft. Shallow, but long-running wet loose avalanches were also visible on the east face of Mt Hood in steep rocky terrain above the Newton Clark Glacier. Cornice failures have been reported throughout the week, although activity appears to have trailed off going into the weekend as most of the trimming has already occurred.  The snowpack on the upper mountain seems to have consolidated and these slopes no longer pose a threat.

Regions covered