Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Don't let the clearing skies and sun blind your ability to identify pockets of wind-drifted snow at upper elevations on Sunday. In these pockets, it remains possible for you to trigger avalanches. Consider steering around fresh looking wind deposits - especially if you notice shooting cracks under your feet or skis. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Just over .25 of precipitation (2-4 inches of snow) on moderate SW winds likely formed shallow wind slabs at upper elevations. Rain fell to 6500 ft on Saturday, so this problem should be confined to above treeline elevations. As winds start decreasing on Sunday, you may notice minimal signs of blowing snow. So, you'll want to pay attention to snow textures and depths as you travel. Look for pillow-like slabs, dunes, and ripples on the snow surface to help you identify wind-loaded pockets. You can probe with your pole and feel for stiffer snow as you move through terrain. Quick hand pits or small test slopes can be productive ways to see how reactive the slab is. Look for these wind slabs on the leeward sides of ridges and moraines, below cornices, and under rock and cliff bands. You may also see these deposits near the tops of chutes and couloirs. 

    These wind-drifted slabs are not expected to be that big, but they could still be consequential in the wrong terrain - especially if you get pushed through early-season obstacles like rocks, trees, and open crevasses. Approach wind-loaded terrain cautiously and avoid these deposits if you notice shooting cracks and feel hollow-like snow. The best policy is to give these slabs a few days to heal. 

    (12/20/2023)

    Look for wind-textured snow along ridgelines to help you identify wind-loaded slopes. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

The Pacific Northwest is heading into a drying and clearing trend that will persist into the work-week. As skies clear on Sunday, keep an eye out for small wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects within the new snow above 6500 ft. We don't expect these point-release slides to be that big or widespread, but they are worth keeping on your radar if you plan to travel on solar slopes. Sticky snow surfaces and rollerballs usually indicate that wet loose avalanches could follow.

On Saturday, our travels took us to the Tilly Jane area in the rain-shadow of Mt Hood. We observed practically no snow until 5500 ft - a sad sight for late December. Above this, snow started becoming more continuous but remained wet and shallow until almost 7000 ft. At this elevation and higher, we found 1 inch of new snow on a stout melt-freeze crust. Poor visibility limited additional observations, unfortunately. 

Backcountry winter recreation on snow is limited to middle and upper elevations at this point. While on the snow, watch for shallowly buried objects such as rocks, creeks, and thinly bridged or even open crevasses. These hazards can exacerbate the consequence of a long fall or small avalanche. 

Avalanche forecasting is a community effort. Let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

 

NWAC may issue a gray "No Rating" for an elevation band when there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard.

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