Bollettino valanghe

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Mon
Alta quota
3 · Marcato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 5 months ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

The size and consequence of recent natural avalanche activity above 7000 ft on Mt Hood should keep you on edge, even as reactivity rapidly declines. Give the heavily wind loaded, steep upper elevation slopes more time to heal. Engage with smaller, less consequential slopes if you travel above 6500 ft.

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    2–3

    With the threat of very large natural avalanches largely behind us by Sunday, human-triggering remains a concern, particuarly at upper elevation. We're moving into a low likelihood, high consequence threat for very large human triggered avalanches. This threat mostly exists in large alpine bowls where intense winds overloaded start zones multiple times over. Given the size and consequence, it would be prudent to wait another day to test heavily wind loaded alpine bowls, chutes, and poorly supported rollovers. Seek less consequential, smaller terrain features once you ascend above the 3/14 maximum elevation of the 3/14 rain crust (likely around 6500 ft)

    Observers reported shooting cracks, a sign of instabilities within the upper snowpack in wind-loaded areas around Pea Gravel Ridge. It is uncertain how long-lived this instability may be, but it's worth finding wind loaded test slopes where you can test for firm over weak layering or stomp on a poorly supported pannel of snow to see whether wind slabs continue to be reactive in your terrain. Be aware that with the strength of recent winds, slabs may exist well below typical start zones. Don't hesitate to seek trees or wind sheltered terrain if you are in doubt. A crust near the snow surface limits wind deposits to more manageable deposits or lens-shaped pillows that you can steer around at middle elevations.

     

    (3/14/2026)

    Shooting crack on a small slope test above a skin track. 

    Photo: Kyle Wyatt

Avalanche Discussion

A massive storm cycle ended with a flourish in the early morning hours on Saturday. A USGS seismologist recorded a 10-minute duration natural wind slab avalanche that ran from 9,000-10,000 ft down to and along the Heather/Clark canyon flats for half a mile. The debris deposited above another D4 avalanche recorded in the early morning hours on Thursday. Mt Hood Meadows Pro Patrol and observers documented the multiple crowns on the Wyeast Face and a smaller crown on the upper Newton-Clark Glacier. Mt Hood Meadows Patrol also noted a very large avalanche originating from Superbowl that was likely explosive triggered, but was not picked up by seismic recordings.

Mt Hood Meadows has received 11" of water equivalent since 3/8, likely corresponding to more than 10 ft of snow at upper elevations. This includes  2.75" of precipitation in the waning 12 hours of the storm on Friday night. Extreme WSW winds ramped up right as the precitation eased, likely resulting in a very intense loading event for these upper elevation start zones in the early morning hours. The last 24 hours of precipitation was mostly warm below 6500 ft, but ended with 1-4" of snow at lower and middle elevations. A 3/14 crust formed at middle elevations, but had yet to set in at lower elevations, leaving 2 ft of saturated snow above a crust. A crust is likely to form at these elevations under clear skies Saturday night.

Coming out of this massive storm cycle we have a lot more uncertainty at upper elevations (and about what may lurk on the upper mountain) than at middle and lower elevations.  Milder temperatures on Sunday will help the healing aspects, but we think it's premature to tickle the beasts lurking at the highest end of the NWAC forecast elevations.

 

 

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