Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Stubborn slabs from Tuesday's wind event remain large enough to ruin your day while fresh, shallow slabs may form. Steer around chaulky or punchy wind-loaded upper elevation start zones and lee features on any aspect you suspect 6" or more of snow above a crust. Early season coverage increases the potential for trauma from any avalanche.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    There are two varieties of wind slabs that may be present on the upper slopes of Mt Hood and they have different sizes and distributions.

    A wind event Tuesday afternoon triggered some natural avalanche activity (see media gallery) with slabs formed during this event now expected to be very stubborn. Potential trigger locations include steep or unsupported rollovers in upper elevation wind-loaded start zones. These slabs could be large. Look for them on the leeward sides of ridges and canyons, beneath cornices, and at convex breakovers in exposed areas. Take advantage of small test slopes to gauge lingering reactivity. Signs of instability include shooting cracks or hollow, drum-like sounds in the snowpack.

    The second variety features fresh, shallow slabs forming Thursday night into Friday morning as winds pick up what little soft snow remains available for transport. These slabs could take you off your feet in an unusually wind loaded location where they are 6" or thicker. Identify and steer around lens-shaped pillows of actively drifting snow  accumulating in the lee of ridgelines. 

    (11/27/2024)

    Backcountry travelers observed shooting cracks on Wedneday. Shooting cracks like this are clear signs of instability that you should not ignore.

    Photo: Aldis Raisters

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures rose into the upper 30s at Mt Hood Meadows upper station on Thursday.  Sunshine likley accelerated the wind slab healing process on sun-exposed aspects, but expect a breakable crust to have formed on these same aspects by Friday morning. These crusts may or may not soften as cooler temperatures arrive with wind on Friday.

We're in a dry pattern for the foreseeable future. Keep in mind the limited observations if you decide to push into alpine terrain. Ease into larger objectives slowly and take the time to evaluate the early season snowpack. 

Backcountry travelers on Wednesday reported signs of instability in wind-drifted snow ( observation here) and more widespread wind-affected surfaces than days prior thanks to strong alpine winds on the afternoon of 11/26. Another observation in Green Apple Creek reported a right-side-up snowpack with 3-4" of unconsolidated snow in sheltered areas.  

If you get out, let us know what you see by submitting a public observation!

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